• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Tennessee Holds Change of Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100620-05
6/20/2010

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va (NNS) -- The crew of USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) conducted a change of command during a a ceremony Jun. 18 aboard Naval Station Norfolk.

Cmdr. Brett D. Moyes relieved Cmdr. James W. Jenks as commanding officer of the ballistic-submarine.

Capt. Jeff Trussler was the principal speaker at the ceremony. As the Commander, Task Force 69, he is the undersea warfare commander for U.S. 6th Fleet and is responsible for submarine and anti-submarine warfare operations.

"There is a consistent and clear standard of excellence and accomplishment sustained under Cmdr. Jenks' leadership," said Trussler. "If there was just one word to describe him, I would have to use tenacious, and if there was a second word it would be passionate. He has proven himself to be one of the great leaders. He has taken the toughest job the submarine force has to offer and done magnificently."

Capt. Tracey L. Howard, commander, Submarine Squadron 16, presented Jenks a Meritorious Service Medal citing his "exemplary and outstanding leadership in the flawless execution of two strategic deterrent patrols, three refit periods, an emergent hurricane sortie, change of homeport, and an Engineered Refueling Overhaul."

While Jenks emotionally thanked his family, friends, and peers in attending the traditional change of command ceremony, he focused his comments on the Tennessee Sailors.

"I present to everyone the reason we are here today and the real stars of the show - the USS Tennessee Sailors," said Jenks, a native of Satellite Beach, Fla., and a 1989 graduate of Auburn University. "They are the heart and the essence, and they make the Tennessee a submarine. It is their persistent day-to-day performance, working together as a team with a common goal that allowed us to achieve our mission. Each man performed his individual role to the best of his ability, and through these individual efforts, the sum of their efforts exceeded my expectations.

"Tennessee Sailors, you were always on watch, focused on achieving the mission. Reflecting on the past 37-months of my command, I can count 16 distinct pivotal events. Each pivotal event, whether single instances in time or periods of several days, was a time in Tennessee's history that went well, but had the potential to go poorly. Crew, you came through each of these pivotal events successfully, not through luck or happenstance, but through your persistence, your day-to-day dedication to training, your work ethic, and your concentration. You always made me proud in performing every task assigned to our ship."

Permanently home ported at Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Ga., Tennessee is undergoing a 36-month Engineering Refueling Overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

"During the past 19-months of being in the shipyard, I can tell you nearly every Sailor would rather be at sea," said Jenks. "The shipyard is a challenging and wearing environment. The majority of Sailors and junior officers spent every fourth night on the ship, separated from their loved ones and often not recognized. The men of Tennessee have excelled better than any other ship. You are responsible for the success of this ship, and if they gave Battle Efficiency awards to boats in the shipyard, you would have earned them. To each of you, I thank you and your families for your sacrifice."

In a personal-for message to the Tennessee, Vice Adm. John J. Donnelly, commander, Submarine Forces, and commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic, thanked Jenks for his command and welcomed Moyes.

"Cmdr. Jenks, you leave behind a winning team - one capable of successfully completing future operational tasking. Your unwavering commitment to your people, duty, and community is truly a bright reflection upon the submarine force. Cmdr. Moyes, you are about to embark on one of the most rewarding, challenging, and demanding jobs in the Navy - command at sea. Tennessee is fortunate to have you at the helm."

While Jenks will report to the Strategic Command Joint Force Component Command Space and Global Strike Force in Offutt, Neb., Moyes is reporting onboard after serving as the Executive Assistant to the U.S. Strategic Command Deputy Commander. He is ready for the challenge of command and wants to continue to build upon the Tennessee legacy.

"I would like to congratulate Cmdr. Jenks on his extremely successful tour of duty and thank him for the tremendous support he gave me during our turnover period," said Moyes, a 1992 graduate of the University of Connecticut. "The ship has achieved great things during his tour, and it will be a challenge to follow in his footsteps. To the officers and crew of Tennessee, I look forward to working with each and every one of you. You should be proud of what you have accomplished at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Your hard work, dedication, perseverance has resulted in Tennessee earning a reputation as a ship that is always able to get the job done. I am honored to lead men of such high caliber."

The sole mission of ballistic-missile submarines like Tennessee has been strategic deterrence since their inception in 1960. The SSBN provides the nation's most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability, always ready and vigilant in a secure and survivable posture to rapidly respond to national tasking.