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USS Columbia Captures Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060628-06
Release Date: 6/28/2006 8:01:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Corwin Colbert, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Columbia (SSN 771) received word of her selection as the Pacific Fleet's recipient of the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy, June 13.

The Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy is presented annually to the ship or aviation squadron in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets that has achieved the greatest improvement during the preceding year. Among the factors considered are operational accomplishments, performance in inspections, awards and retention.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen said in a message that the award was in recognition of “superior performance in their improvements in battle efficiency” during calendar year 2005.

“USS Columbia’s wide range of operational improvements, coupled with the completion of a challenging fleet readiness training period, allowed them to deploy 45 days ahead of schedule to provide a much needed attack submarine presence in the Western Pacific theater of operations,” said Mullen.

Cmdr. Gene Sievers, Columbia’s commanding officer, attributed the award to the efforts of his crew.

“It is obvious that the recognition for receiving the Arleigh Burke Award goes to the crew,” said Sievers. “It recognizes a year’s worth of hard work.”

Sievers, who took command in November 2004, said his crew completed its Fleet Response Plan requirements, normally an 18-month process, in just eight months. The ship deployed from Pearl Harbor in September 2005, 45 days earlier than originally planned.

During its six-month deployment to the Western Pacific, Columbia participated in multinational exercises with the Royal Australian Navy, and made visits to Singapore, Guam, Australia, Japan and Korea.

In 2005, the submarine trained prospective commanding officers as part of the Submarine Command Course, shot numerous exercise weapons, and conducted sound trial operations at the Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility.

While Sievers directed most of the praise at his crew, he said that capturing the award was a team effort that extended beyond the ship, as well.

“It also takes the support of COMSUBPAC (Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet), Naval Submarine Support Command and Submarine Squadron 3 to get us where we are today,” he said.

The Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy is named in honor of Adm. Arleigh Burke, who served 42 years in the U.S. Navy, including six years as Chief of Naval Operations, making him the youngest and longest serving CNO in American history.

For related news, visit the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/subpac/.