Attack sub holds change of command ceremony on historic battleship

Attack submarine USS Jefferson City.


MC2 Michael H. Lee, Submarine Force Pacific Public Affairs
12 February 2016
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii - The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) held a change of command ceremony at the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Ford Island, Hawaii, Feb. 12, 2016.
Commander John L. Croghan was relieved by Cmdr. Kevin O. Moller as the commanding officer of USS Jefferson City in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, guests and submarine crew members.
Retired Rear Adm. John B. Padgett III, President of the Naval Submarine League, was the guest speaker during the ceremony.
"Our submarine crews are well-led, well-trained and highly motivated," Padgett said in his remarks to those assembled for the ceremony. "Jefferson City works hard, maintains high standards and has excelled."
While in command, Croghan led Jefferson City through its ninth deployment in support of U.S. Seventh Fleet operations, conducted an extended port call in Guam and a homeport change from San Diego, California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Croghan thanked the Jefferson City crew for a successful tour and encouraged them to maintain their professional edge.
"Be men of honor, be men of character and continue to stand the perfect watch," Croghan said. "I am proud of each of you, and I am honored to have been called your captain."
As Moller assumed command, he thanked Croghan for turning over a fantastic boat and addressed the crew.
"I am extremely honored to be your commanding officer. It should not be lost on us that we are standing on the deck of another mighty warship from our namesake state of Missouri," Moller noted. "Jefferson City will go back into harm's way again, just as this great battleship did before us."
"Rest assured, I will lead this crew with the same passion and dedication as you and all of the previous
Jefferson City commanding officers," Moller said. "I am honored and humbled to join this elite fraternity as a commanding officer of a United States fast attack submarine."
Moller graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps (NROTC) program. Moller holds a master's degree in business administration from Marquette University and a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Moller's operational tours include serving as division officer aboard USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (Blue Crew), engineering officer aboard USS Buffalo (SSN 715), and strike and operations officer at U.S. Strategic Command Airborne Command Post. Most recently, Moller served as the executive officer aboard USS Toledo (SSN 769).
Commissioned Feb. 29, 1992, USS Jefferson City is the 48th ship of the Los Angeles-class and is the only ship in Navy history named for the capital of the Show Me State.