Capt. William Sumsion became the 53rd commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility during a change of command ceremony Aug. 14, at the shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
Sumsion relieved outgoing commander Capt. JD Crinklaw, who led PSNS & IMF and its more than 15,000 employees and Sailors since May 2023. Shipyard employees and invited guests from the community attended the event, held in the shipyard’s historic Building 460.
In his final remarks, Crinklaw said it was an honor of a lifetime to have been given the opportunity to lead the historic command, which is built on a proud tradition of excellence.
“When I assumed command of this shipyard, I well understood the immense weight of our mission: to maintain, modernize, and retire our Navy’s fleet, ensuring the Pacific Fleet remains lethal, agile, and ready to fight and win in an increasingly contested maritime environment,” Crinklaw said. “What I could not have fully predicted—and what our Navy’s history will record with deep respect—is the extraordinary crucible through which this waterfront would forge its reputation over this tour.
Crinklaw led the shipyard through more than five million resource days of maintenance, modernization, and retirement work on ballistic missile submarines, attack submarines, guided missile submarines, as well as various classes of surface combatant ships, including six aircraft carriers assigned throughout the Pacific Fleet area of operations.
Crinklaw will assume the duties of acting Deputy Commander Portfolio Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations-Shipyard Operations.
In his remarks, Crinklaw thanked every member of the command for their mission focus, dedication, and ability to work through any challenge they faced.
“We did not merely execute routine maintenance schedules; we navigated a convergence of infrastructural, operational, economic, and human challenges unlike any in modern shipyard memory," Crinklaw said. “But at every turn, this team of professionals did what it has done for over a century: you rose to the occasion, you adapted, and you delivered.”
“After navigating seismic efforts, operational demands surged to historic highs, he said. “We faced the relentless pressure of managing four—and at peak times, five—simultaneous aircraft carrier maintenance period stackups also managing multiple submarine availabilities, defueling, and recycling. Coordinating thousands of mechanics, balancing competing priorities across multiple nuclear-powered capital ships, and executing under unforgiving deployment timelines is a staggering industrial high-wire act. It was overwhelming, but you executed it with grit and precision, ensuring our vessels returned to the tip of the spear.”
Crinklaw concluded his remarks by thanking members of the command for serving the Navy and the nation well during his tenure.
“To the men and women of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility: as I prepare to pass the watch, I leave you with my deepest respect and enduring gratitude,” he said. “Never forget that every weld you make, every valve you overhaul, and every ship you return to the fleet carries the safety of American Sailors and the security of our nation with it. Thank you for your tireless dedication, your unmatched craftsmanship, and the profound privilege of serving as your Commanding Officer.”
Sumsion joined the U.S. Navy while attending Eastern Washington University in 2001. After commissioning and teaching at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command, he completed his graduate education at the Naval Postgraduate School. He subsequently qualified as a Diving Officer. He later earned his Engineering Duty Officer Submarine Dolphins aboard USS Louisiana (SSBN 743).
Sumsion has served at a variety of assignments and locations worldwide, including spending 13 months in Afghanistan as an Individual Augmentee, attached to various U.S. Army units. Most recently, he filled in as Commander of Industrial Operations, Norfolk Naval Shipyard from his role at Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA 04).
In his remarks Sumsion thanked Rear. Adm. Scott Brown, deputy commander, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations –Shipyard Operations, for the opportunity to lead the command, as well as everyone who helped him reach this milestone in his career.
“Several mentors and leaders have been guiding me for years, with many of them on the leadership wall,” Sumsion said. “Rear Adm. Hak (Kavon Hakimzadeh), Rear Adm. (Diana) Wolfson, Rear Adm. (Daniel) Ettlich, Rear Adm. Brown, Capt. (Jip) Mosman, Capt. (Michael) Oberdorf and Capt. (Brian) McLain. As I’m now here in this role, I am grateful for your guidance and support.”
Vice Adm. James P. Downey, who until recently was the commander of both Naval Sea Systems Command and Portfolio Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations, presided over the ceremony.