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USS South Dakota holds change of command

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten | 210927-N-GR655-039 GROTON, Conn. (September 27, 2021) – The crew of the...... read more read more

GROTON, CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES

09.27.2021

Courtesy Story

Submarine Readiness Squadron (SRS) 32

GROTON, Connecticut – Cmdr. Craig Litty turned command of the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS South Dakota (SSN 790) over to Cmdr. Adam Zaker in a traditional change of command ceremony held Monday, Sept. 27, at Naval Submarine Base New London.

During his remarks, Litty thanked his family and friends, Navy mentors and crew, who he called “the best of the best.”

“You are the heart and soul of the South Dakota,” he told the assembled crew. “You are experts and you are resilient and you are one family. … I will never forget the warrior spirit you’ve demonstrated over the last three years, and I will always cherish the opportunity to have worked with such an amazing crew.”

Litty took command of South Dakota in November of 2018 and led the crew through the ship’s commissioning three months later. Under his leadership, the submarine earned the Retention Excellence Award in 2019.

“Congratulations to Cmdr. Litty on an exemplary command tour, during which he oversaw South Dakota during a crucial stretch of her formation as a fighting ship of the line. From the end of her pre-commissioning period through her introduction to the operational Navy, CDR Litty led with a steady hand,” said Capt. John Stafford, commanding officer of Submarine Squadron 4.

“His success is evident through the accomplishments of his crew, who installed a lethal acoustic superiority package allowing the South Dakota to operate with greater stealth and impunity throughout the world’s oceans,” he continued. “Going forward, I have no doubt Cmdr. Zaker is the leader to bring this state-of-the-art submarine and her crew into their first deployment.”

USS South Dakota is the seventeenth Virginia-class submarine, and the seventh of the Block III construction. SSN 790, the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name South Dakota, is 377 feet long, displaces 7,800 tons of water, and can travel in excess of 25 knots.

Zaker said during his remarks that he is “humbled and excited” to take command, and urged the crew to embrace the challenges that await them as they become a lethal addition to the fleet.

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be your commanding officer,” Zaker told the crew.

Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.