Cmdr. William Filip, from Manchester, New Hampshire, relieved Cmdr. Matthew Chapman, from Prescott, Arizona, as commanding officer of USS Alabama (SSBN 731) Gold crew, Feb. 23, during a ceremony held at the Bangor Chapel.

"To my crew, there are many great crews, but there is only one 'Bama crew. When I reflect back on this tour, it is your performance that will always make me smile," said Chapman. "My proudest memory will always be seeing some of you who have come from nothing, becoming everything. Remember the success you reaped and do it again, over and over and over, no matter where you are for the rest of your lives. This will keep America great."

Chapman assumed command of Alabama's Gold crew on July 2, 2015. During his leadership, the crew received the 2016 Retention Excellence Award, 2017 Battle Efficiency "E" Award, and 2015 and 2016 Trident Submarine Outstanding Performance Award.

Chapman will next serve in Pearl Harbor as a senior member at Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board (NPEB).

Filip previously served as programing analyst for undersea warfare, the naval nuclear enterprise, and aircraft carrier construction and modernization for the Programming Division, Office of Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N80).

"It is a great honor to have been selected to relieve Cmdr. Chapman," said Filip. "Cmdr. Chapman, I wish you fair winds and following seas as you move to your future assignments. Your next role will give you the opportunity to improve the performance and readiness of the all nuclear- powered ships in the Pacific Ocean, just as USS Alabama excelled under your leadership."

"And to the crew, we will continue [the] superb performance conducted under Cmdr. Chapman's tenure and bring the boat through a vital extended refit period (ERP), returning her to the fleet and the combatant commander in a more tactical advance and material ready condition to continue strategic deterrence into the 2020s," said Filip.

Alabama is one of eight Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, providing the most survivable leg of the nation's strategic deterrent forces.

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