KEYPORT, Wash. - The Blue crew of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) held a change-of-command ceremony at the Keyport Undersea Warfare Museum, Dec. 6.
Cmdr. Hans Fosser was relieved by Cmdr. Sean Gray as the commanding officer of Pennsylvania’s Blue crew in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, guests, and crew.
Rear Adm. Douglas Perry, commander, Submarine Group 9, attending the ceremony as the guest speaker.
“We have to inspire [a certain level] of culture and trust up and down the chain of command, and that can only happen if you have a commanding officer who leads with integrity and inspires a culture of trust throughout,” said Perry. “Hans Fosser has done that and I’m proud to have the opportunity to honor that. You can see that culture of trust and integrity in the accomplishments of Hans’ tunure.
In his remarks Fosser talked about how far the crew and the ship had come in his time as the commanding officer.
“When I took command 28 months ago it was not a grand occasion. There were no guests, no band, I was the fourth commanding officer in eight months and the crew was fully engaged in working to get the Gold crew out to sea,” said Fosser. “Without these Sailors the ship is just a large, expensive pile of precious metals.”
Fosser went on to welcome Gray back to the Pennsylvania, which he served aboard in 2004, and wished him good luck in his future as the commanding officer of the Pennsylvania Blue crew.
“Welcome back home to the Pennsylvania. Things have changed since you were here,” said Fosser. “I present to you the officers and crew of the ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania. The ship is sound and experienced, ready to deter aggression wherever it may be. I wish you the best of luck in your command tour. Do not waste a single day, for they will pass all too quickly.”
Gray spoke about the honor of being the next commanding officer of the Pennsylvania Blue crew, congratulated Fosser on a job well done and exclaimed his excitement to work with the Blue crew’s Sailors.
“Just over 15 years ago, a young and perhaps not so wise Ens. Gray walked in to the Pennsylvania Blue crew office for the first time, and today I am truly humbled and honored to return as your commanding officer,” said Gray. “To the crew, your successes are well documented. Throughout the perturbation and trying times, particularly over this last year, it is clear to me that you are professionals and ready to get after it. I want to thank you for [that], and I look forward to seeing you crush it.”
For more news from Pennsylvania, https://www.csp.navy.mil/pennsylvania/