Commander, Submarine Squadron 12 held a change of command ceremony where the Squadron's commodore transferred command to the deputy commander in a ceremony at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton.

Vallejo, California, native, Capt. Butch Dollaga transferred command to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native Capt. Ollie Lewis, Jan. 15.

Under Dollaga's leadership Submarine Development Squadron 12 trained, manned and equipped nine nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarines, homeported at Naval Submarine Base new London in Groton, as well as testing cutting edge equipment and tactics for potential implementation throughout the entire U.S. submarine force. During his time as commodore, five submarines deployed to the European theater and the Middle East, where they earned "first time ever" achievements while on missions vital to national security.

Dollaga credited his success in the Navy to those he served with.

"Throughout my time in the Navy, I have been blessed with people who mentored me and helped me become the person I am today," he said.

Vice Adm. Joseph Tofalo, commander, Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force Atlantic; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, the event's guest speaker, praised Dollaga for his effective leadership.

"The DEVRON-12 (Submarine Development Squadron 12) submarines that deployed during your tenure consistently showed up fully ready to meet the demands of a wartime environment," said Tofalo. "They expertly accomplished a broad and challenging range of missions including: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, unmanned undersea vehicle employment, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and extremely challenging shallow water, high-contact density scenarios."

"On the waterfront side of DEVRON, my focus was engaging with the submarine crews, so my staff and I could train them to operate 'alone and unafraid' on deployment," said Dollaga. "When we operate at 700 plus feet beneath the surface of the ocean and at 25 plus knots, you can't phone a friend for help."

Dollaga said he wanted to empower his crews so they could, "... make informed decisions based on assessing real-time data and believing in their training and instincts."

Dollaga will be the last commodore of DEVRON 12, which will be re-designated Submarine Squadron 12. The development portion of the squadron's mission has been transferred to the newly formed Undersea Warfighting Development Center.

The change of command represents the closing of a chapter, but not the end of the story to Dollaga.

"What made DEVRON-12 unique will continue in the submarine force," said Dollaga. "Its legacy will continue with the people in the Tactical Analysis Group of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center and with the people in Submarine Squadron 12, because the foundation of what they do was forged in DEVRON-12. I was just blessed and lucky to be its last commodore."

The next chapter begins with Lewis, who will be the first commander of the newly re-designated Submarine Squadron 12. Regardless of the re-designation, the demand for submarine capabilities will remain.

"Every theater commander wants a submarine's presence to counter threats in their area of responsibility. Our challenge will be to prepare submarine crews to succeed under the most difficult conditions," said Lewis.

The nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarines of DEVRON 12 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.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic, visit http://www.navy.mil/.