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Submarine Squadron 16 Gets New Commander

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090729-19
Release Date: 7/29/2009 4:58:00 PM

From Commander Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs

KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- Commander, Submarine Squadron 16 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Chapel July 27.

Capt. Tracy Howard relieved Capt. Dan Mack as commodore.

During Mack's tour as commodore, he ensured the submarines' crews assigned to Submarine Squadron 16 were 100 percent ready and well-trained for a wide variety of missions including strike, special operations, and irregular warfare.

Rear Adm. Barry Bruner, commander, Submarine Group 10, who served as guest speaker, addressed some of the Mack's achievements as commodore. These achievements include the first Atlantic SSGN deployment by USS Florida (SSGN 728), the conversion of USS Georgia (SSGN 729) from a ballistic-missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine and preparations for its upcoming first deployment, the completion of USS Alaska's (SSBN 732) refueling overhaul and initial phases of USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) refueling overhaul, as well as leading the installation of the common submarine radio room aboard SSGNs.

"His impact will be felt for decades, because every time he rode a submarine he talked to the enlisted men, the chief of the boat, the junior officers, CO (commanding officer) and XO (executive officer) – they remember that," Bruner said. "Some junior officer 15 years from now will have a tough decision at some point and based on something Captain Mack said, something he acted out, or some guidance that he gave on how or why a procedure is the way it is. That young JO (junior officer), who will be the commanding officer, will make that hard decision and it will be the right decision."

Howard is a native of Tupelo, Miss., and a 1986 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His sea tours include USS George Bancroft (SSBN 643), USS Birmingham (SSN 695), executive officer of USS Albany(SSN 753) and commanding officer of USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716). Tours ashore include material officer for Submarine Squadron 7; director of Nuclear and Submarine Officer and Enlisted Programs for Navy Recruiting Command; deputy commander for Mission Readiness for Submarine Squadron 15; special advisor for Homeland and National Security Affairs to the Vice President of the United States; and Eastern Europe and Eurasia division chief for the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate.

"I am very honored to be in charge of a command of highly professional staff and superb ships of Submarine Squadron Sixteen," said Howard. "I am prepared to meet and tackle the challenges as we support the submarine commanding officers while they prepare their ships for challenging forward-deployed operations."

Mack, who served in the Navy for 27 years, held a retirement ceremony immediately following the change of command ceremony.

"The common themes throughout Dan's successful career has been that he loves every challenge, thrives in competition, gets his group focused on the main thing, he can identify root deficiencies and lead the team to making the organization better," said Rear Adm. Joseph Mulloy, director of programming division at OPNAV (80), who served as the guest speaker for the retirement ceremony. "Like a good submariner, Dan always bubbled to the top!"

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 10, visit www.navy.mil/local/csg10/.