Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet

Commander, Submarine Squadron 19 Turns Over
By COMSUBGRU Nine Public Affairs

Release Date: 8/6/2010

(BANGOR, Wash.) – Sailors and guests watched as Capt. John Tammen, turned over command of Submarine Squadron 19 to Capt. Dennis Carpenter during a change of command ceremony held at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., Aug. 6.

Tammen took command of Submarine Squadron 19, which is responsible for manning, training and equipping two guided missile submarines (SSGN) and all ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and fast attack submarines (SSN) undergoing maintenance in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility – Bremerton Site, in 2008.

“The best part of being Commodore has been working with so many former shipmates here in the Pacific Northwest; seeing the professional growth and leadership in Sailors who worked for me when they were very junior Sailors and Officers and are now Master Chiefs, Chief of the Boats and Commanding Officers,” said Tammen, a native of Westwood, N.J.

When asked what his greatest accomplishments while in command were, Tammen responded “Being an agent for change, seeing the transformation here in Bangor as ship's regained operational proficiency after completing lengthy overhauls in the shipyard, the SSGN Concept of Operations slowly morphing to provide the Combatant Commander greater operational availability and our Sailors adopting a lifestyle of fitness.”

When asked the thing he would miss most about commanding Submarine Squadron 19, Tammen said, “I will miss working with the SSBN/SSGN crews as they are what bring these great warships to life.”

Carpenter praised Tammens’s accomplishments, and looks forward to the challenges ahead of him.

“Commodore Tammen’s accomplishments are impressive. He took over Submarine Squadron 19 in its infancy and spearheaded the development of a deployment certification and operational cycle that has played a significant role in the success of the SSGN program,” said Carpenter. “My goal is to build on the significant accomplishments of Commodore Tammen by continuing to enhance the SSGN’s capabilities as the world’s premier sea based strike and irregular warfare platform.”

Tammen will report to the Chief of Naval Operations staff as the Branch Head for Platforms, Manpower Policy & Budget in the Submarine Warfare Division (N87).