USS Houston to change command
The submarine USS Houston (SSN 713) will hold a change of command ceremony at Polaris Point on Friday, Jan. 7, at 10am.
During the time-honored Navy tradition, Cmdr. Christopher J. Kaiser will be relieved by Cmdr. John S. Zavadil. The guest speaker will be Capt. Bradley R. Gehrke, Commander, Submarine Squadron 15.
Kaiser assumed command of USS Houston in May 2002. His next assignment will be deputy commander for Submarine Squadron 11 in San Diego.
Zavadil most recently served as current operations officer and submarine operations officer for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
USS Houston arrived at its new homeport in Apra Harbor from Bremerton, Wash. on Dec. 24 after an extensive overhaul and upgrades. It is one of three submarines currently homeported on Guam.
The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships. Its other missions range from intelligence collecting and Special Forces delivery to anti-ship and strike warfare.
