Houston assumed command in 2021. Throughout his tour, the Submarine Power participated in Ice Train 2022, now elevated to an operation, oversaw the preliminary levels of AUKUS, which is a trilateral Australia-UK-U.S. partnership on nuclear-powered submarines, and carried out the Chief of Naval Operations’ ‘Get Actual, Get Higher’ initiative, leading to an enchancment in effectivity, lethality, protected operations, and high quality of life for Submarine Power Sailors.
“After I arrived, we targeted on three Submarine Pillars; Warfighting – Individuals – Security,” mentioned Houston. “Our drive is essentially the most deadly and succesful undersea drive on the earth… At the moment we face new perils. Day-after-day we maintain the road distant from the shores of the USA and if obligatory, carry the combat to our enemy. We can’t and won’t fail.”
“Individuals are our most vital asset. It’s individuals who design, restore, and function our submarines,” continued Houston. “We have to proceed to foster a warfighting tradition of excellence enabling each one among us to succeed in our potential… Security is foundational to our tradition and our operations. It’s foundational to each warfighting and folks. Our proud heritage and career of arms calls for the best of private {and professional} requirements. These requirements permit us to function in an unforgiving atmosphere.”
Houston will proceed his naval service as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP). The NNPP gives militarily efficient nuclear propulsion crops and ensures their protected, dependable and long-lived operation. This mission requires the mix of absolutely educated U.S. Navy women and men with ships that excel in endurance, stealth, velocity, and independence from provide chains.
Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, was the visitor speaker throughout the ceremony. Caudle beforehand served as Commander, Submarine Forces till he turned over command to Houston in 2021. He expressed his congratulations on a profitable tour and highlighted a few of Houston’s exceptional achievements.
“Working with U.S. Strategic Command, he masterminded a novel set of SSBN operations, coordinating with U.S. allies and companions to showcase the flexibility to maneuver unimpeded and undetected across the globe, then pop up at locations of our selecting putting our competitors and adversaries on discover that immediately, or any day, is absolutely the flawed day to problem the USA or her Allies,” mentioned Caudle. “Invoice places enamel into what our Protection Technique calls Built-in Deterrence. He leveraged ‘Get Actual Get Higher’ rules and instruments to reinforce warfighting readiness and lethality whereas championing a people-centric mode all through the Submarine Power, prioritizing high quality of life for each Sailors and their households.”
Caudle went on to want Gaucher the most effective of luck as he assumes command of the Submarine Power.
“I’m assured you’re the proper chief on the proper time to proceed making substantive change to broaden the overmatch our Submarine Power maintains over our adversaries,” mentioned Caudle. “I do know you’ll lead your crew to fulfill and exceed the best requirements to be able to courageous the deepest depths. I will provide you with the identical recommendation I give each commander I’ve been lucky sufficient to guide, you’re in cost, so take cost. Lead boldly with grit, tenacity and innovation. I look ahead to your management.”
Gaucher has an in depth historical past with the submarine group taking his first tour as a division officer aboard USS Flying Fish (SSN 673), ultimately working his manner as much as commanding officer of USS Metropolis of Corpus Christi (SSN 705). His management resulted in finishing two Western Pacific mission cycles, and a homeport change to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii whereas incomes two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Submarine Squadron 15 Battle Effectivity ‘E’. He served because the Chief of Workers at Submarine Power Atlantic, and commander of Submarine Group 9.
Different workers and flag excursions embrace being liable for the Seawolf-class submarines whereas serving in main command of Growth Squadron 5; director of Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and director of Strategic Integration on the Navy workers.
“I might not be right here immediately with out the help of many, many individuals,” mentioned Gaucher. “That group contains my household, our many associates, my Naval Academy ’91 classmates, and the various Navy and Joint Power shipmates that my spouse Renea and I’ve met alongside the way in which. I want to say due to the numerous Sailors who’ve taught and supported me all through my profession, particularly these on my submarines USS Flying Fish, USS Oklahoma Metropolis, USS Maryland, and my command tour on USS Metropolis of Corpus Christi. Regardless of all of the know-how we possess, our Sailors give us our largest benefit.”
Gaucher continued to talk to his new workers on his priorities for the Submarine Power and the place his efforts will probably be targeted.
“I acknowledge there are many challenges forward in working our strategic forces, producing fight prepared forces for our geographic combatant and fleet commanders, making certain we’re able to obtain the Columbia-class, persevering with our AUKUS pillar actions, working with our many associate nations, rising our use of unmanned and hybrid techniques, and the record goes on and on,” mentioned Gaucher. “I’m excited to tackle these challenges and I do know that the Submarine Power crew is as much as the duty. I’m actually honored to guide our nation’s apex predators.”
U.S. Submarine Forces execute the Division of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea area. Along with lending added capability to naval forces, Submarine Forces, particularly, are anticipated to leverage these particular benefits that include undersea concealment to allow operational, deterrent and fight results that the Navy and the Nation couldn’t in any other case obtain.
U.S. Submarine Forces and supporting organizations represent the first undersea arm of the Navy. Submarines and their crews stay the tip of the undersea spear.
