BANGOR Wash. – Capt. Mark Behning turned over command of Submarine Squadron 17 to Capt. Mark Schmall during a change of command ceremony April 6 at the Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor base chapel, Bangor, Wash.
Behning started off by crediting the 31 handpicked members of his staff with a successful tour. “They are the life-blood of the largest submarine squadron in the Navy and they want nothing more than to help the crews succeed, they really are the success story here and I cannot thank them enough.”
Major milestones for the squadron under Behning’s command were 34 strategic deterrent patrols, including USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) setting a record by completing a 140-day strategic deterrence patrol last Spring, as well as USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) passing the 30 year mark of its service life; the originally-intended age of its service life.
“Now HMJ is in uncharted territory with more than 12 years of patrols ahead of it while we design and built the Ohio replacement SSBN,” said Rear Adm. Dave Kriete, commander, Submarine Group 9, the keynote speaker.
Behning’s next assignment will be at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. Schmall comes to Submarine Squadron 17 from the staff of U.S. Strategic Command, where he served as Chief, Campaign Division. He previously served as commanding officer of USS Maine (SSBN 741) Blue Crew, and executive officer of USS Topeka (SSN 754).
As he addressed the submarine Sailors gathered at the ceremony, Behning took an opportunity to recognize the submarine Commanding officers that reported to him.
“For the COs in the audience, it has been an absolute pleasure serving you as your Commodore. It is a time I will never forget and I wish all of you and him nothing but the best going forward,” Behning said.
“I am confident that I am turning over a successful squadron and a great staff and I am also very confident that Capt. Schmall is the right leader to guide both of them to even greater success.”
Submarine Squadron 17 is responsible for manning, training and equipping eight ballistic missile submarines and 16 crews homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.