Virginia Class fast-attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) held a change of command ceremony at Dealey Center at Naval Submarine Base New London, Jan. 8.

Cmdr. Daniel J. Reiss relieved Cmdr. Todd Moore as commanding officer.

"Commanding a ship has been a goal of mine since my first days in the Navy," said Moore. "The best part about command was interacting with the Sailors who make it all happen. It's difficult and dangerous business to take a submarine to sea, but we have the finest Sailors in the world who make it look easy every day."

Moore is most proud of his crew's ability to accomplish its assigned missions.

"I'm proud that the USS New Mexico put out to sea when she was called upon," said Moore. "That may seem obvious or trivial, but it takes an incredible amount of toil from the crew, the sub base and many supporting agencies to send a submarine out to sea. The New Mexico team delivered every time and took our ship to amazing places."

Moore commanded New Mexico and her crew from September 2013 to January 2016. Under his leadership New Mexico deployed to the European Command area of responsibility, tested experimental gear, trained fellow submariners and supported fleet exercises.

Moore led New Mexico and its crew through an emergent dry dock maintenance period, which they successfully completed in time to take part in Ice Exercise 2014. During the exercise New Mexico made history as the first Virginia-class submarine to surface at the North Pole.

Moore's next duty will be training perspective submarine commanding officers and executives officers at the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island.

Reiss recognized the New Mexico crew's accomplishments on deployment and praised the crew by saying, "They are motivated, intelligent Sailors and it is a real privilege to be called a New Mexico submariner."

Reiss also made a pledge about the future of the New Mexico and crew.

"Under Todd's patient and steady leadership, these men rose to the challenge over and over," he said. "That is a tradition we will carry on as we face new challenges, so Todd and every other Sailor who has served on this boat can continue to say proudly, 'I am a New Mexico Submariner!'"

Fast-attack submarines like New Mexico are multimission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence. The submarine is designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare - from open ocean anti-submarine warfare to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to projecting power ashore with Special Operation Forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

New Mexico was commissioned March 8, 2010 at Naval Station Norfolk. The nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine is 377 feet long and has a displacement of 7,800 tons. USS New Mexico is the second naval vessel named in honor of the state of New Mexico.