The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) held a change of command ceremony on Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Aug. 15.

Cmdr. Dave Latta relieved Cmdr. Aaron Peterson as commanding officer of Scranton during the time-honored ceremony held aboard Scranton.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this tribe of undersea warriors,” said Peterson. “Scranton has overcome her share of adversity over the past two years, and so have some individual Sailors. I am proud to see them now as part of the solution on Scranton and leaders pushing the boat to the next level.”

Peterson led Scranton’s crew through a transition from the shipyard back out to sea where they executed the first ever Western Pacific deployment for Scranton and her first deployment in over four years. During its deployment they met all tasking with no lost days at sea and achieved a 93 percent operational tempo.

Capt. Wesley Guinn, director of Maritime Operations, Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), served as the guest speaker for the event.

“USS Scranton is a mighty war ship, ‘on time, on track and on target,’ while vital to maintaining our undersea dominance it is not simply having the best submarines, sensors, and weapons,” said Guinn. “The true key to success in combat, is the unique advantage that the U.S. Navy holds over our competitors, it is the unparalleled resourcefulness, competency, and commitment of the U.S. Navy Sailor. We have and must continue to develop the best trained Sailors on the seas, and that demands the finest leadership we can provide them. Capt. Peterson, you have provided such leadership.”

Following Petersons' remarks, Latta received his official orders to take command.

"I most look forward to serving the Iron Horse tribe each day and continuing their work, building a highly trained and proficient crew, ready to meet our nation's toughest calling,” said Latta. “Commander Peterson has done an extraordinary job crafting a highly capable and truly motivated crew, and I am eager to continue leading this tribe built on comradery and hard work.”

Commander Dave Latta, a native of Minnetonka, MN, holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He earned his commission at Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and completed nuclear propulsion training in Charleston, SC. Most recently, he served as a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Named after the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, located in the Lackawanna River Valley, Scranton was commissioned on Jan. 26, 1991, and was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. The 360-foot ship has a crew of approximately 16 officers and 122 enlisted Sailors.

Scranton is homeported at Naval Base Point Loma and operates under Commander, Submarine Squadron 11.

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