The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) held a pier-side change of command ceremony for crew members, family and friends on Naval Base Point Loma, March 23.

Cmdr. John C. Witte relieved Cmdr. Kurt D. Balagna as the commanding officer of Annapolis.

Capt. Chris Cavanaugh, commander, Submarine Squadron 11, served as guest speaker for the event.

"It is great to have the Annapolis here in the Pacific," said Cavanaugh. "We have a proud history of submarining in the Pacific. Since my first weeks as commodore here my conversations with Kurt have centered around progress he was making transferring an east coast submarine platform into a lethal warfighting machine ready to deploy to the western Pacific. Kurt has demonstrated the attributes we have come to expect of leadership: technical and tactical expertise, endurance, tenacity, and initiative."

Following his remarks, Cavanaugh presented Balagna with the Meritorious Service Medal. After receiving the award, Balagna reflected on his experience serving on board Annapolis.

"Annapolis is a national treasure," said Balagna. "She is a marvel to behold after 26 years of proud service. All the awesome power Annapolis can bear is for naught without a fine crew to man the ship. It is the crew that breathes the life into a submarine and then takes the personality of the crew."

After Balagna, Witte and Cavanaugh exchanged salutes, Witte took command of Annapolis and addressed his new crew for the first time.

"To the family and Sailors of USS Annapolis: welcome to my family," said Witte. "I understand the value of all the sacrifices we will make together. None of you will be going through this alone, you will have team Annapolis here with you. I am honored to serve with each and every one of you."

Witte, from Omaha, Neb., has served on board the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706), the Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) and the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783).

Balagna, from Farmington, Ill., previously served on board the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737), the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN 774). During his time as the commanding officer for Annapolis, he led the ship through an engineering overhaul, two homeport changes and an inter-fleet transfer to the Pacific Fleet.

USS Annapolis is the fourth U.S. Navy ship named for Annapolis, Md., home of the U.S. Naval Academy.

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