The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Hyman G. Rickover (PCU 795) held a charge-of-command ceremony on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the Submarine Force Library and Museum, home of the historic ship USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

Cmdr. Thomas Niebel took charge of the Rickover, which when completed will be the newest and most technologically advanced warship in the Virginia-class of fast-attack submarines.

Rickover's Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Lewis Im began the ceremony by explaining the significance of the charge of command ceremony to the attendees.

"As long as there have been ships at sea, there has been the awesome responsibility of command. Chapter 8 of the Navy Regulations codifies, in twenty-two pages, what a commanding officer is for our service. Boiled down, the commanding officer's responsibility is, absolute, and his or her authority is commensurate with that responsibility," said Im. "Additionally, all commanding officers are required to show in themselves a good example of virtue, honor, patriotism, and subordination. We are here today to witness the formal recognition of this responsibility being laid upon our commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas Niebel."

Capt. Brain Sittlow, Commander, Submarine Squadron Four, pinned the command at sea pin on Niebel during the time honored event to officially grant authority to Niebel to command the Rickover. Niebel will be the ship's first commanding officer.

Niebel addressed his crew members for the first time by saying, "We are tasked to deliver the most technologically advanced Virginia-class submarine to the nation's Navy to protect our families and their way of life. We will do our best at every task to build both the ship and her crew from the keel-up. This will require character and teamwork," Said Niebel. "Commit yourselves to excellence as we forge this shipyard crew."

Rickover is the second submarine to be named after Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.

The first vessel to be named in honor of the admiral was the Los Angeles-Class submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709), which was in service with the navy from 1984 to 2006.


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