Moyer Assumes Command of Submarine Learning Center

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Capt. Richard Moyer relieved Capt. Arnold Lotring Jr. as commanding officer, Submarine Learning Center, in a change of command ceremony at Wilkinson Hall, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn., Aug. 11.

Rear Adm. David Gove, commander, Naval Personnel Command and commander, Naval Personnel Development Command, was the principal speaker and presented Lotring with the Legion of Merit (Gold Star in lieu of Third Award).

Gove characterized Lotring as "...an unstoppable driving force in accomplishing the Chief of Naval Operations' Revolution in Training and Sea Warrior initiatives." Gove further noted he "...personally initiated the most significant changes to Submarine Force training in 40 years and his revolutionary advancements...improved warfighting readiness...and is the paradigm for the Navy's future learning environment."

Lotring has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). His next assignment is commander, Navy Region Midwest and commander, Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Lotring, honored by Norwich, Conn., earlier this summer as its native son, struggled at times to keep his emotions in check while taking leave of 'his' Center and Southeastern Conn.

"This is probably the toughest talk I've ever had to put together," said Lotring. "We in the Navy are lucky if we serve three years in one job, but I've been lucky to have been on this journey for over four years. What started as a concept, as a vision, is now the premier learning center in our Navy."

Submarine Learning Center, established in June 2003, is responsible for more than 350 courses and 500 fleet training products.

Lotring summarized the challenge the Submarine Learning Center faced at its origin and that to which it must successfully respond everyday.

"(We) needed to create a new training environment which would allow our submariners access to learning for the right skills at the right time for the new missions and operational areas of the world we are finding ourselves in; areas and missions far more challenging and dangerous than at any time in the previous 30 years," said Lotring.

"We had to provide Sailors opportunities to practice ashore, as if they were at sea, in order to supplement the scarce training time at sea to gain experience," said Lotring. "We needed world-class trainers to include virtual reality, augmented reality Part Task trainers and from panel simulators. Today, in no small part thanks to everyone across and throughout the Submarine Learning Center, our Sailors have those tools."

From training sites in Groton, Conn., Norfolk, Va., Kings Bay, Ga., Bangor, Wash., San Diego, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with additional learning sites at Yorktown, Va., and Guam, the Center's nearly 1,400 officers and enlisted staff members train more than 200,000 Submarine Sailors annually.

In assuming command, Moyer offered a first look at the way ahead.

"Continuing to apply technology to improve our training remains the top priority of the Submarine Learning Center," he said. "We will provide the best trained Sailors in the world to our force commanders."

For related news, visit the Submarine Learning Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/slc/.