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Tennessee Goes From Green to Blue & Gold

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110908-23
9/8/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) James Kimber, Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs

KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) hosted a crew split and an assumption of command ceremony Sept. 8 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

Cmdr. Richard Dubnansky assumed command of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine's Gold crew while Cmdr. Brett Moyes assumed command of the boomer's Blue crew.

Dubnansky reported to the sub in February as the prospective commanding officer.

"I learned about perseverance and sacrifice. Perseverance to overcome the formidable obstacles placed on the path of a commanding officer trying to rebuild his ships and rebuild his crew," Dubnansky said in an speech to the crew and guests. "I applaud the work you have done that has allowed the USS Tennessee to successfully complete sea trials and the Operational Reactor Safeguard Exam and to get back to her primary mission of providing strategic deterrence; all day; every day."

Tennessee returned to its Georgia homeport July 29 following a 30-month engineering refueling overhaul (ERO), at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va. During the ERO, Tennessee combined the Blue and Gold crews into one ship's force, known as the Green crew.

While the boat received its refueling, Tennessee underwent a wide-range of maintenance and renovation to extend the ship's service life. This included the removal and replacement of dated systems and equipment.

"Our focus and attention to safety and cleanliness led to the best safety record of any refueling to date," said Dennis Bevington, the submarine's project supervisor while in the shipyard.

Tennessee now prepares to transfer from Submarine Squadron 16 to Submarine Squadron 20 and resume its mission. To do this effectively, boomers divided their crews to maintain a deployment schedule that keeps the submarine at sea six out of seven months and sustains a quality of life for Sailors and their families.

Tennessee is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the Volunteer State.