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Naval Submarine Support Center Consolidates With Submarine Squadron 6

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110901-17
9/1/2011

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Two waterfront Norfolk, Va.- based submarine commands consolidated Sept. 1 during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

Commander, Naval Submarine Support Center (NSSC) consolidated under Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 6, and Cmdr. Richard B. Alsop, commander, NSSC transferred his leadership role to Capt. Eugene P. Sievers, commander, COMSUBRON 6.

Capt. Michael E. Jabaley, a rear admiral select serving as the Assistant Program Manager for Warfare Requirements and Test and Evaluation in the Virginia-Class Submarine Project Office (PMS 450), was the guest speaker.

"Today is an opportunity to celebrate the entire staff of NSSC," said Jabaley. "In a submarine homeport with more than one squadron, an NSSC is established to provide the services that don't specifically relate to the operation of submarines at sea. Legal, medical, supply, administration, personnel, force protection, computer networks, and personnel security -they are all support functions, but are tremendously vital to the operations of the submarines.

"If there is only one squadron, then the support functions are rolled into that single squadron. So with the end of Squadron 8 earlier this year, NSSC Norfolk is disestablished and rolled into Submarine Squadron 6. NSSC Norfolk has shown great flexibility in how they supported the fleet. They built a blueprint for how to support our crews across a wide array of areas. Their primary metric, the combat readiness of the submarine crews, speaks for itself.

"This is a testament to Cmdr. Alsop, his people, and all those who came before him. When the bell rang, NSSC Norfolk answered it and got the job done. Losing NSSC is an unfortunate result of the changing fleet, but we don't have to lose what was built here."

With Rear Adm. Richard P. Breckenridge, commander, Submarine Group 2, observing, Jabaley presented Alsop with his third Meritorious Service Medal citing him "for outstanding meritorious service while serving as commanding officer of Naval Submarine Support Center Norfolk from October 2009 to September 2011. Commander Alsop's professionalism and initiative were the cornerstones to Norfolk-based submarines maintaining an exceptional state of operational readiness."

Alsop then reflected on his tour.

"Times change and militaries must change with them," said Alsop, who will temporarily serve on the squadron staff until he receives permanent orders. "There has to be consolidation and there has to be economy of scale. Perhaps one of the reasons for our success as a military force is because we have accepted that need for change. If we had not we would still be using wooden sailing ships armed with cannons instead of the modern sleek nuclear-powered fast attack submarines.

"With a staff of approximately 90 people, we provided support for the submarines homeported in Norfolk, as well as for any submarine visiting from around the world, including two foreign submarine visits. NSSC also supported eight submarine deployments, coordinated the logistics for more than 300 submarine underways and arrivals, and more than 50 high value escort missions executed without incident by our boat division. Additionally, we also supported eight change-of-command ceremonies, two decommissionings, and one commissioning. To the men and women of Naval Submarine Support Center, your accomplishments speak for themselves," Alsop said.

Sievers concluded the ceremony with his acceptance of additional leadership.

"This ceremony culminates six months of work resulting in the consolidation of three organizations - Submarine Squadron 8, Submarine Squadron 6, and Naval Submarine Support Center into one efficient submarine squadron," he said. "I congratulate Alsop for his efforts in meticulously planning this transition. He and his staff detailed a plan that defined our final billet structure and the role of each person. Throughout the time of flux, the service provided by NSSC to the submarines to Naval Station Norfolk and Norfolk Naval Shipyard remained the highest quality.

"Our core mission is to prepare our ships for deployment to the operational commanders, and the organization is well aligned to accomplish that task for our eight assigned submarines. I am excited to accept the challenge of continuing to improve this new organization and deliver combat ready ship fast attack submarines to the fight wherever and whenever they are called for. God bless this nation and our Navy," Sievers said.