(Via Ho’okele News)
Story and photo by MC1 Steven Khor
Submarine Force Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
Cmdr. Travis Petzoldt relieved Cmdr. Christopher Buziak as commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class, fast attack submarine USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) during a change of command ceremony held June 6 at the submarine piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Buziak said he is proud he had the opportunity to be in command of City of Corpus Christi and work with some amazing Sailors.
“It was my greatest honor to serve with you and be called skipper over the last three years,” said Buziak. “You are submariners, a different breed of man than all others. There is stress involved in being the best, in meeting the expectations of the American people, of being a defender of freedom, of being a master of your trade. I only give you one last order as your commanding officer: carry on.”
During his nearly 36 months in command, Buziak took his submarine and crew through a 14-month maintenance period, a western Pacific deployment, and numerous shorter underway periods.
Retired Adm. Tom Fargo, the ceremony’s guest speaker, praised Buziak for a job well done, considering that 87 percent of the crew had never been on a western Pacific deployment.
“It’s been a great personal pleasure for me, Chris, to follow your career, which has led to the very best job our Navy has to offer—command at sea,” said Fargo, the former commander of U.S. Pacific Command.
“You made a highly effective team that clearly enjoyed what they were doing. You built a powerful atmosphere that empowered your people and, as always, when you’re running a good ship, they grow in their jobs, have confidence in their abilities, and perform to an exceptionally high standard,” Fargo said.
During the ceremony, Buziak was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his command of City of Corpus Christi from August 2011 to June 2014.
As Petzoldt assumed command of City of Corpus Christi, he thanked Buziak for turning over a great ship and highly enthusiastic crew.
“Thank you, City of Corpus Christi crew, for your warm welcome, and for all of the hard work you have done and I know you will continue to do,” said Petzoldt.
“You are the life of the ship I am standing on. Without you, it’s just an expensive hunk of steel. I look forward to working with each and every one of you.”
City of Corpus Christi is the second ship to be named after the Texas city and is capable of conducting anti-surface and anti-submarine operations along with guided-missile strike operations using conventional Tomahawk land attack missiles.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit http://www.csp.navy.mil/.
