Kern turns over command of Virginia to Cramer

Since 02-07-05

Excerped from NSL UPDATE 1-06-05

By, JO1 (SW/AW) Mark A. Savage, The Dolphin, 6 Jan 05  

Capt. David J. Kern turned over command of the nation's newest nuclear powered attack submarine, USS Virginia (SSN 774), to Cmdr. Todd W. Cramer during a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London's Shepherd of the Sea Chapel Dec. 17.  

Since Kern took command in August 2002, he oversaw the submarine's progress from construction and christening to sea trials and commissioning. As a result, Kern has joined an elite fraternity within the submarine force.   "In the 103 year history of the submarine force, only 20 men have served as commissioning commanding officers (CO) of a new class of nuclear submarine," said Capt. James F. Caldwell, Jr., Commander Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE.

 "When you look at the history of the first of the class, the challenges of building Virginia might rank among the highest...perhaps equivalent to that of Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine, or George Washington, the first ballistic missile submarine."   According to Caldwell, Virginia was the first submarine built and commissioned after a six-year drought.

Virginia was christened and launched in a time of tough budgetary constraints when the Navy is looking hard at its force structure. Virginia is a revolutionary design - built for the missions of the 21st century.   Virginia is the first of a new class of submarines designed specifically for post-Cold War missions.

As the lead ship of the most capable class of nuclear attack submarines in the world, Virginia has been designed from the ground up to operate as a key element of a joint naval force. With their stealth, endurance, ability to maneuver with impunity and their connection to land, air, sea and space-based assets, Virginia class submarines are uniquely equipped to wage multidimensional warfare in the farthest reaches of the globe, providing the U.S. Navy with continued dominance in coastal waters or the open ocean.  

"The expectations for Virginia could not have been higher," Caldwell said. "There was significant pressure on Dave Kern to deliver this ship on time and in great shape with a trained and ready crew. Dave, my hat is off to you for the superb job you did in making Virginia operational. The submarine force and the Navy are truly indebted to you."   But according to Kern, his path to commanding Virginia took a few ironic twists, beginning approximately 19 years ago when he was occasionally asked what he wanted to do when he left the Navy.

He would often respond by saying he wanted to pump gas at a convenience store.   Though he was still in the Navy, he got his wish as he was given command of USS San Francisco (SSN 711), which was preparing to go into the shipyard for a refueling.   "Pumping gas at the 7-Eleven, refueling the SSN 711," Kern said. "God certainly has a sense of humor."  

Irony came into play again approximately three-and-a-half years ago while he commanded San Francisco. While in a conference with the Submarine Squadron EIGHT commodore and Caldwell, who then commanded USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), he made quip remark in response to the conversation. When he asked, "what can they (Navy) do, send me to a boat in the shipyard," he discovered, a few weeks later, that's exactly what they could do when he was picked to be Virginia's perspective commanding officer.  

"Shipyard duty is difficult," Kern said. There are no underways, liberty ports and in new construction, the crew is only loosely formed. We barely know each other because everyone is new to the boat. As Virginia took shape so did the crew."   All the checklists from the Trident and Seawolf class submarines were gone, which benefited Virginia's crew, according to Kern.

The crew and the General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard staff had to work together to develop new guidance to put the submarine to sea. "We were happy to be in the front of that and make sure they were ready before Virginia went to sea," Kern said.

"As sea trials neared, the pace of work reached it's peak. It's hard to characterize this period as anything other than a seemingly endless series of shift work, tag-outs, meetings, training lectures, drills, attack centers, interviews and navigation trainers. I'm extremely proud of this crew's performance throughout this period."  

As the crew faced the challenges stemming from reactor safeguard exams, power range testing, phase one and phase two crew certifications and habitability inspections, they grew closer and the bond of trust grew stronger.   "I was always impressed with how Virginia Sailors could work their hearts out day after day and still come in the next day with a smile on their face and ready to do whatever it took to get Virginia to sea," Kern said.

"Virginia's operations underway have been extremely successful. I credit this to a sound design and careful preparations. In preparing the crew, I give the majority of the credit to Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Dunavant, Virginia's executive officer, and CMDCM (SS) Casey White, Virginia's chief of the boat."  

As Kern prepared to turn command of Virginia over to Cramer, he reminded Cramer of the challenges that lay ahead. Cramer was excited to receive command of this revolutionary submarine and leading it into the future.   "It is an absolute honor and a distinct privilege to assume command of Virginia," Cramer said. "She truly is a remarkable ship manned with an incredibly talented crew and I look forward to being part of her success.