Good afternoon Admirals, Retired Admirals, Captains and retired captains, I am Force Master Chief Paul Davenport for Commander Submarine Forces, US Pacific Fleet and it
is my honor to have the opportunity to share with you all, some highlights from our operations in the Pacific during the previous year. I will be highlighting operations and personnel that have contributed to the success of three vital lines of effort directed in our Design to Maintain Maritime Superiority. This afternoon I’m either going to provide an efficient briefing or I may just fall off the stage.
To put that into context, when I was COB on USS GREENEVILLE I came up topside and we were doing man overboard drills. I came up and my captain, CDR Anthony Carullo, said, “c’mon, let’s go. We’ve got to get going. We’ve got to get going”.
So after the first couple attempts at these drills we all go in the wardroom and conduct a little debrief, and he’s said, COB, when we’re topside for man overboard drills, you’ve got to move with urgency. You’ve got to move with efficiency. I need you to get up, get down and get the Sailor onboard. Every time you and your team come topside you act like you’re in outer space.
So I said, Aye, Aye, sir. I’ve got it. So we run the next man overboard drill. Keep in mind that I’ve only been onboard maybe four months, and I would refer to myself as a good proactive COB with tons of energy. I go running topside, get my team up there, we put the new Jacobs ladder overboard on the cleat aft of the sail, and I and a young Second Class Petty Officer jumped onto the Jacobs ladder and in the water we go.
Luckily, we were all connected to the safety harness and to the safety track. Of course the captain is up there like, okay, I meant go with some focus. Move with urgency, but go with the plan.
So it’s safe to say I think I’ve learned my lesson and I’ll try my best to stay upright. I am done falling overboard. So we’re moving on.
The photos and descriptions speak to the Submarine Forces commitment towards Strengthening Naval Power at and from Sea, our dedication to Achieving High Velocity Learning and how we strive to continue to Strengthen our Partnerships with our Allies.
I would like to first highlight some accomplishments from our submarines homeported in the PACNORWEST.
USS CONNECTICUT returns to operations following a shipyard period that lasted over 4 years. Connecticut entered the Shipyard in November of 2012 and due to a slew of material challenges, continuing resolution and temporary shifts in shipyard priorities the ship and shipyard struggled to close out the Overhaul period. But now, I’m pleased to tell you that she is ready. We expect Connecticut, which is already waterborne, to complete her sea trials by Thanksgiving.
This past Thursday I had the pleasure of touring the ship with the Commanding Officer, (CDR Taddiken) Chief of the Boat, (MCPO Walters) and their team and I will tell you that the crew is highly motivated and geared up to get back to normal at sea operations. It was also great to hear from the Commanding Officer as he toured me around, that the Torpedo Division was the heartbeat of the Submarine.
USS SEAWOLF completed her last deployment in the fall of 2015, now she will trade positions with the CONNECTICUT and enter the shipyard for long awaited repairs. It will be up to us all to ensure that SEAWOLF completes her overhaul in 36 months. I can’t stress the importance of having all personnel, assets and funding to make sure she gets back in the game on or ahead of schedule.
One amazing dynamic of the PACNORWEST is that RDML Tammen and his team have a TRIAD of submarine power sitting in their backyard. Not only are there fast attacks, but just across the piers sit the Navy’s #1 Priority, the Trident Class Submarine, and last but certainly not least are the SSGNs that we prior Sailors like to call the Death Star of the Fleet. As you walk around the waterfront, it doesn’t take you long to realize that you are in the heart of a destructive and dominant pool of submarines.
In November of last year we shared with the world the power that we project from our most stealthy and survivable leg of the Strategic TRIAD, when USS KENTUCKY launched several missiles during a Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO), which was the final certification that the crew could effectively operate and maintain the weapon’s systems.
Prior to the DASO, KENTUCKY completed a 40-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) to extend the life of the submarine for another 20 years. This overhaul was completed 25 years after the keel had been laid. The CO (CDR Smith) at the time stated, “When I took command in December of 2011, the ship and the crew were tired. They desperately needed the Engineered Refueling Overhaul because it is a rebirth for both the ship and the crew. We looked at the whole process as a recommis- sioning.”
Rear Adm. David Kriete, Commander Submarine Group Nine at the time, stated, “The process of returning a strategic deterrent asset, like KENTUCKY, back to the patrol rotation requires the hard work and dedication of many people, including not just the crew, but also civilian workforce and Sailors from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Trident Training Facility, Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific, Intermediate Maintenance Facility and Submarine Squadrons 17 and 19. This deployment demonstrates the teamwork among all these commands and I am extremely proud of them. Returning KENTUCKY back to patrol is also an important milestone because it reaffirms the credibility of the U.S. SSBN force with both allies and potential adversaries.”
As we completed our integration of females into the Subma- rine Force this year we witnessed Chief Petty Officer Dominique Saavedra, assigned to USS MICHIGAN (SSGN 727) (Blue), as the first enlisted female pinned with the most prestigious warfare pin of all. She was assigned to MICHIGAN, but due to the ship being confined to the shipyard she volunteered to join the OHIO crew while forward deployed to complete the rigorous at sea requirements in order to finalize her ship’s qualification.
In the photo Chief of the Boat, MCPO Jason Puckett, pinned her dolphins on her uniform. I can only imagine that this was a very special moment for Chief Saavedra and, ladies and gentlemen, she or one of her other CPO counterparts on MICHIGAN could very well develop into our first female Chief of the Boat.
Now we transition from the Great PACNORWEST to this century’s Submarine Capitol of the World, Pearl Harbor.
This year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise was a great success where 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations came together and executed numerous exercises from Theatre ASW to land assault and attack. In this photo USS CHEYENNE is trialed by a Republic of Korea Chang Bogo-class submarine, USS TUCSON and USS SANTA FE as they transit in close formation.
Other significant ships that participated included; Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS JOHN C. STENNIS and Amphibious assault ship USS AMERICA.
Just prior to RIMPAC, SUBPAC and Squadron Seven would bid farewell to a Submarine that delivered time and time again in the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean.
On May 30, 2016, Memorial Day, Mark Scott, a city council- man of Corpus Christi, Texas, addressed the Commanding Officer (CDR Petzoldt), his Officers and crew, and guests during the USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN 705) decommissioning ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
City of Corpus Christi concluded 33 years of service as the second U.S. warship to be named after Corpus Christi, Texas.
We had a myriad of great accomplishments in our submarine force this year, which are vital to our history and our future. There were final deployments and a maiden deployment of a fast attack with female officers integrated, just to name a few.
USS BUFFALO and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS STETHEM depart Changi Naval Base for the at- sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore July 21, 2016.
This was one of many tasking’s for BUFFALO as she spun her screw and silently carried her crew across the Pacific for one last voyage. She will return to Pearl prior to Christmas and then the crew will depart for decommissioning on the West Coast in Spring 2017. The Captain and his crew have been masterful at keeping this boat at the highest state of readiness prior to and during the deployment. This proves yet again how determined our Submarine Sailors and maintenance support personnel aboard our Forward deployed tenders, FRANK CABLE and EMORY S. LAND are at ensuring that we sustained independent operations in the Fifth and Seventh Fleet AORs.
Like the well-oiled machine that our supreme Navy is, we turn the page from one of the oldest submarines in our arsenal to one of our youngest as she makes her maiden voyage to the Seventh Fleet.
Oh, and did I mention there were female officers aboard?
That’s right our first deployed SSN with 3 of the world’s most highly trained females doing their part to navigate the waters of the Pacific and to keep the crew and the submarine safe through- out a 6 month deployment. Prior to the ship’s deployment, CNP, at that time VADM Moran, and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo were able to make a short underway on USS MISSISSIPPI, in which I’m positive their experiences were nothing short of exhilarating and memorable.
Overall our Sailors are effectively employing our submarines, providing superior shore support and building a stronger team for the future Navy. They never cease to amaze me and all other leaders in the Submarine Force. And now I would like to introduce you to just a select few that received notoriety as our Shore and Sea Sailors of the Year.
To recap, the Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY) for Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) were announced back in Feb. 11 following a week of events where
10 SOY candidates representing various commands from the Pacific submarine community competed for the distinguished title. Machinist’s Mate, Non-Nuclear, Submarine Auxiliary 1st Class Vinn Mai, from Charleston, S.C., assigned to USS BUFFALO, earned the title of COMSUBPAC 2015 Sea Sailor of
the Year.
Navy Diver 1st Class Kristoffer Ilagan, from Moreno Valley, Calif., assigned to Undersea Rescue Command, earned the title of COMSUBPAC 2015 Shore Sailor of the Year.
Both Sailors represented COMSUBPAC very well in the PACIFIC Fleet SOY competition, where now Chief Illagan was selected as the PACFLT SOY. This was the first time in over 6 years that a Sailor from the Submarine Service was selected at that level and he went on to compete against other top Sailors throughout the Navy to try and become selected as the Chief of Naval Operations SOY.
Needless to say all 10 of these Sailors were the cream of the crop and eight of them went on to be selected as Chief Petty Officer this past summer.
As we stretch our legs across the Pacific and far past Pearl we come to find a small island in the Mariana’s Island chain. Approximately 15 years ago great leaders once shared a vision. They said I’ve got an idea let’s put fast attack submarines in a Forward Deployed Posture and we will station their crews and families in Guam. Then they snapped their fingers and presto, we have Forward Deployed Submarines.
On May 5th, USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723), entered the floating dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5) for a scheduled maintenance period. She has successfully undocked and completed crew certification, which were crucial milestones to returning her to at sea operations. SQUADRON FIFTEEN has just reported that the boat and crew will be back in Guam prior to Thanksgiving, where the crew will receive a much needed rest period since they’ve been away from their homeport for eight months.
Back about 14 to 15 years ago when our top commanders in the Navy thought up this idea of forward deployed submarines, they never knew it would have opportunities to grow more legs, but on the 1st of July, SEVENTHFLT, COMSUBPAC, and GROUP 7 Commanders along with Squadron Fifteen and families welcomed USS TOPEKA to Guam as they broke up the crowd of three submarines and made Guam their homeport.
Topeka had just completed an 18 month engineering refueling and overhaul and a change of homeport.
As our century grows older and we look back 25 years you would think someone in a comfortable office was sitting around throwing darts bearing names of submarines at a large map of the world, because our submarines, their crews, families and the shore support personnel have seen some submarines like TOPEKA, CHICAGO, CORPUS CHRISTI and HOUSTON change
homeports more than three times. The fact that we can do this time and time again and still keep our Sailors and their families happy are a direct result of smart and compassionate leaders such as those at Squadron Fifteen that become creative and innovate new ways to communicate with and support our Sailors and their families.
They have redesigned Indoctrination processes to include; Ombudsman teams working with Sailors and their families to create a check-in workbook that covers the basics for new arrivals to Guam. Squadron Fifteen, Ombudsmen and Family Fleet Service Center staffs are committed to ensuring quality care is provided and they are determined to make their ‘1st Fifteen’ days on island enjoyable and smooth as they transition from across the Pacific Ocean.
Partnered with COMSUBPAC we have been able to produce great products such as Go Guam initiative that continues to grow. There are great informative videos that are published from the great work of Sondra Rodriguez (Booz Allen Hamilton contrac- tor), and the Defense Media Activity/Armed Forces Network in Guam. These videos have been critical in educating Sailors and families and civilian employees and contractors about the opportunities in Guam and they have answered the mail on the myths associated with being stationed in Guam.
Recently the Go Guam initiative expanded to open forums where personnel could share their experiences, ask questions and bring up concerns to the Submarine Force, Squadron and Regional Commanders.
The Squadron teamed with MWR has also made improve- ments to infrastructure in Guam by utilizing TAD personnel to fix up the track and other facilities on Polaris Point.
As we wrap up our brief tour around the Pacific we head back east until we get to the finest Submarine Squadron in the Navy. Ok, I apologize that might be somewhat bias.
In March 2016 USS HAMPTON surfaced at the North Pole during ICEX 2016. HAMPTON had just returned from a Western Pacific Deployment 4 month prior to conducting ICEX. Might I add that this was the second time that I personally witnessed Hampton rinse and repeat this high tempo scenario in 2014 and again in 2016. Following ICEX she completed a change of homeport to commence an 18 month Engineering Refueling and Overhaul Period. During the ICEX the Honorable Ray Maybus came aboard the submarine and was underway for a total of 6 days. Yet another awesome experience that he would never forget during his tenure as our SECNAV.
In the past two years we have made a ton of investments both monetarily and painstakingly with work by our Sailors and Phoenix Engineers, but we have produced. We can now confident- ly say we can save lives of Sailors that could become stranded on the oceans floor in water depth up to 2000 feet.
Yes, our Undersea Rescue Command, led by CDR Hazenberg, is Rescue Ready and can deploy anywhere in the world within 96 hours. This was most recently demonstrated during Pacific Reach 2016.
This was a multinational exercise conducted between six Pacific partnering nations (Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, and the United States).
PACREACH 2016 was the first time in four years the United States participated in an international submarine rescue exercise, and the first time the Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) was deployed to the Pacific region. The exercise included two successful submarine matings with personnel transfers, and a Distinguished Visitor dive. PACREACH 2016 was a success and demonstrated how through submarine rescue multinational cooperation can be achieved.
In the pictures there are foreign nationals representing Austral- ia and the Republic of Korea as they take a nice gingerly ride from a bottomed submarine back to the mother ship aboard the PRM. The two submarines that were vital in this exercise were, HMAS RANKIN and ROK CHANGBOGO.
Just three weeks ago URC completed another exercise with a Chilean Submarine, THOMPSON during CHILEMAR, and our very own Third Fleet Commander, Admiral Tyson had the opportunity to transfer from the PRM aboard the THOMPSON, have lunch, then depart. Now I’m not quoting her, but she mentioned it was the best experience of her career. My personal experience was not as wonderful, you would think after 25 years of operating submerged on submarines that I would have no fears, oh contraire. The only opportunity for me to ride was during training and certification of the PRM and to say I almost turned my coveralls into a poopie suit is down-playing it. When you are hard sealed to a false seating surface at 500 feet and the PRM simulates a loss of differential pressure let’s just say the hard jerking of the PRM by the motors make your heart skip a few beats as your peering through the open hatch to the false seating surface.
The final significant milestone that I want to share with you all today involves one of our finest treasures in the Submarine Force.
USS SAN FRANCISCO, Commanded by CDR Jeff Juergens makes a namesake visit on her final deployment. After completing her final deployment SAN FRANCISCO will soon change homeport to Norfolk, VA where the boat will undergo a conversion to become a nuclear training ship.
To everyone that wears dolphins, all my fellow Sailors and supporters of the Navy and those looking down from Heaven, this boat is a symbol of our resolve, resiliency and our superior strength. It’s very difficult to imagine that just 11 years ago this submarine would experience a horrific collision, one that left the boat crippled and in repair for numerous years. But through the hard work and dedication of shipyard workers and submariners we were able to return her to service and she would go on to perform as well or better than some of our newest submarines in our arsenal. May we never forget Petty Officer Ashley.
In conclusion, I would like to say, thank you to the Naval Submarine League for allowing me to speak today and hosting this wonderful event. Without your support it would be very difficult for us Submariners to accomplish our mission. The main two groups of people that you truly serve and serve well are the Sailors that operate these submarines and the great people that live in this awesome country of ours. Those are our two customers, so keep them in mind daily as you go forward from here. And let’s all continue to make a difference. Thank you.
