PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD, Maine – Submarine Maintenance, Engineering, Planning and Procurement Activity (SUBMEPP) held a change of command ceremony Friday, July 17, 2026, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) where Capt. Joseph Meier was relieved as commanding officer by Capt. Peter Norgaard.
Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, director, Design and Construction, Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, Submarines served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Senior Executive Service member Ms. Stefanie Link, deputy director, In-Service Submarines and Industrial Base, Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, Submarines offered congratulatory remarks and presented Meier with the Legion of Merit Award.
“Change of command, the turnover of responsibility from one leader to the next, is an important step in every organization’s life cycle. Both Capt. Meier and Capt. Norgaard are superb leaders, and it is great to be here to be part of this event,” said Rucker.“Capt. Meier is an exceptional engineer but more importantly he is a true team player, and a people-centric leader.Over the last four years, Capt. Meier’s deliberate and engaged leadership drove performance accomplishments across the maintenance spectrum – our nation owes a debt of gratitude for this amazing effort.”
Meier assumed command of SUBMEPP in Sept. 2022 after serving as deputy project superintendent for USS Texas (SSN 775) during its depot modernization period at PNSY. With strategic foresight he proactively positioned SUBMEPP to support the U.S. Navy's top acquisition priority by standardizing the submarine maintenance library for the future Columbia-class, directly mitigating lifecycle sustainment risks to ensure its on-time delivery. His implementation of advanced forecasting tools, coupled with the validation of operating cycle extensions, returned over 80 years of operational service to the Fleet and drastically reduced availability work stoppages. This ceremony also celebrates Meier’s 37 years of service, as he will be retiring this year.
“To the people of SUBMEPP, many thanks for all of the hard work despite the challenges you have endured,” said Meier. “You have blown me away with your professionalism, knowledge, and expertise. I was an outsider, but you brought me right in as part of the team. I am proud and humbled to have been a part of this great organization.”
Norgaard, a native of Minnetonka, Minn., graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering Systems and earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Norgaard has served in numerous roles in the submarine acquisition and maintenance community, including as deputy project superintendent for USS Virginia (SSN 774) during its depot maintenance period at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from 2019 to 2021.
“Transforming the way we work to better support the mechanic, the Sailor and the material condition of the platform over its service life is an absolute imperative,” said Norgaard. “Based on what I have seen from SUBMEPP so far, I know I’m on the right team to make that happen.”
SUBMEPP keeps all submarines safe, reliable, and affordable to achieve maximum service life through our engineered life cycle maintenance, material,and modernization products and services.
As America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair and modernization, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard delivers the decisive edge required to master an era of evolving threats. It stands at the forefront of America's commitment to peace through strength, delivering combat-ready submarines that are lethal, resilient, and prepared to win. The work performed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a direct contribution to national security, ensuring the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant maritime force anywhere in the world.