Cmdr. Burt Canfield was relieved by Cmdr. William Wiley as commanding officer of the Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine USS John Warner (SSN 785) during a change of command ceremony held on Naval Station Norfolk, August 15.

Senator John Warner, the submarine’s namesake, and Vice Adm. Frederick J. Roegge, President of the National Defense University, were the guest speakers at the ceremony.

"I owe my thanks to the United States of America,” said Warner. “When I wore that white hat, it was the most important chapter of my life. It was literally the beginning of my life. I hope that those among you proudly wearing that hat today can take from my remarks a sense of your own accomplishment and the future that rests ahead of you.”

As Warner recalled his first memories of military service, he spoke of the pier were the submarine John Warner was moored and specifically the pylons that held the pier in place. His path in life was the pier and the fundamental lessons were the pylons supporting and protecting that path.

“It was the fall of 1944, and our nation had withstood the toughest battles of World War II in terms of causalities. More Americans were killed in one battle, the Battle of the Bulge, right there in that fall, that’s when I and thousands of young seventeen-year-old kids all got their parent’s consent and joined the services. We couldn’t wait to get in and try and pull on the ore and do our bit,” Warner explained. “I was sworn in the first week of January 1945, sixteen million men and women were in uniform and back here, on the home front. They were entirely united, steadfast behind our mission.”

Warner described the wakeup call that the Battle of the Bulge had provided, and how he learned of the details while in boot camp.

“I remember so vividly. They would bring the raw footage of the battles back. They put us in an auditorium and we would watch that raw footage. It wasn’t edited, it was raw, just as they would pick up the bodies, the wounded, everything else. And then after the film was over, the lights would go on and an officer would walk out and he very solemnly would say, you saw that. You’re the next to be, you’re in line and you have got to pay attention to what you’re being taught here and learn it.”

"To the crew of John Warner; learn the trade of the military," said Warner. "Tattooed in your heart forever should be that phrase: Duty, Honor, Country.”

That was the first lesson Warner would carry with him throughout his military service and life. The second lesson he shared with crew was about respect. “Gain respect for that man on your left, the man on your right, or woman. Respect them, learn to respect and trust them because at some time, maybe in the future, your life is going to be dependent on them stepping forward and doing their duty. To do what they have been trained to do, to save both of you, and that is a fundamental,” said Warner.

"I say to each of you white hats, if a high school dropout like me, a badly disciplined kid like me can make it, can go through all the steps from being a white hat to Secretary of the Navy to Chairman of the military committee, each and every one of you can do that and maybe do better. So, I commend you wherever you are on this dock today, or throughout our naval forces don’t forget that it’s up to you to learn those fundamental lessons,” said Warner, “To carry that tattoo on your heart and to feel proud and brave for what you have done. And look them squarely in the eye and say, 'Duty, Honor, Country is my code.'”

As Roegge took the podium, he welcomed all in attendance and reminded them of why such ceremonies are held, and he spoke to the importance of the submarine force.

“The Navy’s responsibility is to prevent challengers from using the sea to threaten the interests of the U.S. and our allies, but within this maritime decade lies, preponderantly, a submarine decade,” said Roegge. “Because as potential adversaries develop capabilities to counter the U.S. military, the risk to ground forces, aircraft and ships grows daily. Our submarine force retains the unique ability to go undetected anywhere in the world and to hold at risk the things that potential adversaries hold most dear.”

“Attack submarines like John Warner are able to do this because they are the world’s most capable submarines, and they are operated by the world’s most capable crews,” said Roegge.

Capt. Martin Muckian, Commander of the Submarine Squadron Six, presented Canfield with the Legion of Merit Medal (LOM) for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service as commanding officer of USS John Warner from 2015 to 2018, and for inspiring his team with brilliance in all areas and demonstrating exceptional leadership. He led his team to sustain warfighting, mission readiness and excellence establishing John Warner as one of the top performing commands in the Atlantic Fleet.

Canfield assumed command of John Warner in September 2015. A native of Damascus, Pennsylvania, Canfield graduated with honors from New York Maritime College in 1998 with a Bachelors of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He later earned a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2005.

After greeting friends and family in attendance, Canfield offered a special thanks to Senator John Warner and his wife, Jeanne.

"Your relationship to the boat is very important, and you are both an inspiration to us all,’ said Canfield, who presented flowers as an expression of gratitude for all Senator Warner and Jeanne have done and continue to do in support of the Sailors and our nation."

Canfield attributed his successes to his mentors and the Sailors of John Warner, including Roegge, his first commanding officer on board USS Connecticut (SSN 22) and Capt. Bob Clark, his second commanding officer on Connecticut. “I will never forget the confidence you placed in me, standing watch in the most sensitive operations a submarine can do, and you let me drive the ship. I have never forgotten the freedom of decision and action you gave to me, and I have tried to model my leadership style after what you showed me."

Canfield finished his remarks with thanks to his crew, "To the crew of the Sledgehammer of Freedom, well done! I always tell people I have been blessed with a great crew. I really have. Success doesn’t happen in spite of individuals; it happens because of individuals. Individuals working together as a team of driven yet humble warriors. Take pride in your accomplishments and know that it wasn’t me, it was you. You have made this ship into what it is today, and I know you will continue to outperform well after I am gone.”

Canfield’s next assignment is slated to be the U.S. Fleet Forces Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board in Norfolk, Virginia.

Canfield and Wiley approached the center of the dais exchanged salutes and reported to Capt. Martin Muckian, as Canfield relinquished command and Wiley assumed command.

Wiley, a native of Elberton, Ga., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000. His last duty assignment was a Federal Executive Fellowship at The Atlantic Council where he served as the U.S. Navy Senior Fellow. After thanking shipmates from previous submarines, friends inside and outside the Navy, and his supportive family, Wiley addressed the Sailors of John Warner.

"To the crew of the great warship John Warner, it is an honor to stand before you today as your Commanding Officer," said Wiley. "I have enjoyed the short time we've had together, and I am impressed with what each one of you has to offer this ship, the Navy, and the Nation."

"There is no better time to be a submarine," Wiley said. "I'm sure you've heard that before, but as we stand here today, that statement is most certainly true. I look forward to what lies ahead for this ship, and I stand ready to pursue excellence on a daily basis with you so that we can maximize the lethality of this amazing warship."

 John Warner is the first submarine in the class to be named after a person, the five-term U.S. Senator, John W. Warner, the 61st Secretary of the Navy. Built by the Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, the John Warner was commissioned August 1, 2015. John Warner was the first Virginia-class submarine to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles in targeted strikes against Syrian military facilities. The submarine has a crew complement of over 10 officers and more than 100 enlisted, is over 350-feet long, and can travel in excess of 25 knots.

Fast-attack submarines like John Warner have multi-faceted missions. They are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Special Operation Forces (SOF); carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions; support battle group operations and engage in mine warfare.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Forces, visit www.navy.mil/. This ceremony was broadcast live at www.facebook.com/sublant/. For more on the U.S. Navy, visit www.navy.mil , www.facebook.com/usnavy, www.twitter.com/usnavy , or @USNavy on Instagram.