When the new Commander, Submarine Force Pacific (SUBPAC), took over last Friday, April 11, he did so at an official change of command ceremony, aboard the Virginia-Class fast-attack submarine USS MONTANA.

Rear Admiral Chris Cavanaugh, from Convoy, Ohio, relieved Rear Adm. Rick Seif, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and assumed duties as the 45th commander of SUBPAC.

CDR John Gilligan, the captain of the MONTANA, noted the significance of having the event aboard SSN 794 by saying, ” The crew and I were honored to host the change of command. We were all proud that SUBPAC chose MONTANA, the newest submarine in the Pacific Fleet, as the location for this historic event and we look forward to continuing to demonstrate the capabilities of the Virginia-Class.”

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, served as guest speaker and presiding officer for the ceremony. He had much praise for the work of departing RADM Seif and the USS MONTANA’s new SUBPAC home. Said Koehler, “Under Adm. Seif’s leadership, SUBPAC has spent the last two years growing its combat capacity and capabilities. It has grown more lethal across its various mission sets of anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, precision land strike, mine warfare, and special operations; and as we gather today, SUBPAC’s attack submarines, ballistic missile submarines, and submarine tenders are deployed far and wide to defend our homeland and our way of life.” That comment was especially appropriate aboard the MONTANA, whose motto is, in Latin, “May she defend our way of life.”

Koehler also touched on another subject of special importance to SSN 794 – AUKUS. He said that RADM Seif had “…spearheaded the U.S. Navy’s Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral security agreement, integrating over 120 Royal Australian Navy Sailors into the U.S. Navy Submarine Force and laying the groundwork for nuclear-powered submarine maintenance in Australia. In addition, SUBPAC developed new agreements with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Navy submarine forces to improve interoperability.” Of special note regarding AUKUS, the USS MONTANA now has several Royal Australian Navy personnel integrated into its crew.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Barnes)

Said RADM Cavanaugh (shown speaking) on assuming SUBPAC command, “It is a profound honor to join your team today. I will maintain an unwavering focus on warfighting readiness. That is what we deliver for the nation, and by extension for our allies and partners. And it is what deters our would-be adversaries every day.

The SUBPAC event took place on the 125th birthday of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. On April 11, 1900, the U.S. Navy formally entered the undersea domain by commissioning USS Holland (SS-1), an electric-powered, torpedo-equipped submarine that marked a revolution in naval warfare.

The Pacific Submarine Force provides strategic deterrence; anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; precision land strike; intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and early warning; and special warfare capabilities around the globe.