Cmdr. Michael Hollenbach relieved Capt. Douglas Gordon as commanding officer of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN 784) during a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base, New London, July 23.

North Dakota was commissioned Oct. 25, 2014.

Rear Adm. Richard P. Breckenridge, director, Warfare Integration Division (N9I), was the guest speaker.

Under the command of Gordon, North Dakota returned from its first-ever mission, July 20, after deploying and retrieving unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) from the ship's dry deck shelter (DDS) in an operational environment.

The timing within the submarine's schedule, along with its highly-trained and certified crew, made it the optimal choice to conduct the mission which demonstrated the promising and emerging technology of UUVs within the Submarine Force.

The seven-week mission was conducted prior to completing the ship's post shakedown availability (PSA), joining a small group of Virginia-class submarines to accomplish the feat.

Others have been the USS Virginia (SSN 774), USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and USS New Hampshire (SSN 778).

"Wow, it's really hard to believe that this day has finally come. As many of you know, we just returned from a short deployment three days ago and have only had a couple of days to gather our wits and conduct this ceremony," said Gordon, a native of Indianapolis and commissioning commanding officer. "This has been an awesome journey in command. I can still remember the day that I found out I would be coming to the North Dakota as the commanding officer.

"I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing the ship built piece by piece, section by section, test after test, and finally coming together into the mighty warship that we call the USS North Dakota. I have also seen the finest crew a captain could hope for take shape before my eyes. It has been a unique experience and one that I will never forget.

"Cmdr. Hollenbach, it is with great reluctance that I give up this ship and crew to you. It has been my life for the last three-and-a-half years. You are definitely the right guy to lead this ship through the next several years. I know the crew is excited to have you as their captain and will appreciate the energy that you bring to the ship. Officers and crew of the North Dakota, it has been a true honor to work with you over the last several years. Congratulations to all that you have achieved. You all have much to be proud of!"

Gordon is a 1991 graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. His next duty assignment will be Commander, Submarine Forces, NATO Staff at Northwood, United Kingdom.

In a message to Gordon from Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander, Submarine Forces, stated, "relentless and tireless in your pursuit of excellence, you personified the 'Strength From the Soil, Reapers of the Deep' motto. You formed and guided your team through the challenges of new construction, transforming a cold iron hull into a deployable national asset. As the first of the Block III Virginia-class submarines, your foresight was instrumental in establishing the tactics, techniques and procedures for all future builds. Well done!"

Hollenbach, a native of Spokane, Washington, is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

"I am happy to be taking over from a crew who has just completed a ground-breaking mission with operational and tactical success," said Hollenbach. "It is an honor the submarine force has the confidence in his abilities as a leader to take charge of a front-line fast attack submarine. I could not be here without the support of my family. Thank you to my wonderful wife, my son, and daughter. To all my former shipmates, thanks for all the guidance and mentoring. Capt. Gordon, thanks for developing a crew from the ground up, certifying them for safe operations at sea and taking them to the next level by certifying them for mission tasking. I am blessed to be inheriting such a wonderful crew."

North Dakota is the 11th Virginia-class attack submarine to join the fleet, and the first of eight Block III Virginia-class submarines to be built. The Block III submarines are built with new Virginia Payload Tubes designed to lower costs and increase missile-firing payload possibilities.

The 10 current Virginia-class submarines have 12 individual 21-inch diameter vertical launch tubes able to fire Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMS). The Block III submarines being built will have two-larger 87-inch diameter tubes able to house six TLAMS each.

As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, the submarine can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities. North Dakota is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operations forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare.

The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. It will operate for 33 years without ever refueling.

Construction on North Dakota began March 2009; the submarine's keel was authenticated during a ceremony on May 11, 2012; and the submarine was christened during a ceremony Nov. 2, 2013.

North Dakota is the second Navy ship, and first submarine, to be named in honor of the people of "The Peace Garden State." The other ship was the Delaware-class battleship BB-29, which was commissioned April 11, 1910 and decommissioned Nov. 22, 1923.

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