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, May 26.

Cmdr. Aaron Peterson relieved Cmdr. Ronald Stowe as commanding officer of Scranton during the time-honored ceremony held on the pier next to Scranton.

"I could not have asked for a better crew," said Stowe. "I'll miss every single one of you. We have overcome many challenges together and I leave Cmdr. Peterson in great hands."

Stowe led Scranton's crew during an extensive, two-year maintenance period at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. He oversaw important upgrades to the combat and sonar systems on board, making Scranton one of the most technologically advanced warships in the fleet.

Capt. Brian Davies, commander, Submarine Squadron 11, served as the guest speaker for the event.

"Command-at-sea requires leadership, tactical skill, initiative, aggressiveness and endurance," said Davies. "The skills necessary to take command of a nuclear-powered submarine take decades to cultivate and only a select few are chosen to bear that responsibility. I am both blessed and honored to be joined today by these two officers, Cmdr. Ronald Stowe and Cmdr. Aaron Peterson, who are part of that elite group."

Following Davies' remarks, Peterson received his official orders to take command.

"Crew of the Scranton, you are the lifeblood of this boat," said Peterson. "Without you it is an expensive hunk of steel and nothing more. I look forward to getting to know each of you and your families as we prepare the team and the boat to execute our nation's business. I do not take my responsibilities lightly."

Peterson earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 2000. He commissioned through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

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.

With a displacement of 6,900 tons, she can travel in excess of 20 knots while submerged. Scranton is homeported at Naval Base Point Loma and operates under Commander, Submarine Squadron 11.

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