• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS La Jolla Conducts Change of Command Ceremony

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071027-01
Release Date: 10/27/2007 8:29:00 AM

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS La Jolla (SSN 701) conducted a change of command ceremony here Oct. 25.

Cmdr. Douglas Sampson relieved Cmdr. Nelson Hildreth as commanding officer of La Jolla.

Guest speaker, Capt. James Ransom, Director of Operations, commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, reflected on the caliber of crew on board La Jolla correlating a direct reflection of Hildreth's leadership while serving as commanding officer of La Jolla.

"(Hildreth) makes submarining fun and rewarding for the whole crew," said Ransom. "Operational excellence and a motivating, positive command climate is a great combination. Team La Jolla gets the job done and they get it done right."

After Ransom's comments, he presented Hildreth his third Meritorious Service Medal.

After assuming command in October 2005, Hildreth led La Jolla through two successful Western Pacific deployments as well as two submarine command course operations, training future Pacific Fleet submarine commanding and executive officers. La Jolla also received the Battle Efficiency Award in 2005 and 2006.

Hildreth thanked his crew for giving him the opportunity to experience what most naval officers dream of their entire career.

"La Jolla's crew is the finest group of hard working dedicated Sailors a commanding officer could hope to have," he said. "They respond to any challenge and just keep getting the job done."

While assuming command of La Jolla, Sampson greeted his new crew.

"We are here by choice," he said. "To have been chosen to lead you humbles me."

Hildreth's next tour is as deputy commander for training on the staff of commander, Submarine Squadron 3, also in Pearl Harbor. His sea tours include USS Miami (SSN 755), USS Honolulu (SSN 718) and USS Puffer (SSN 652). He is a 1987 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.