USS Columbia Holds Change of Command Ceremony

The commanding officer and chief of the boat of USS Columbia (SSN 771) were relieved of duties May 1 by the commander of Submarine Squadron 7, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Cmdr. Dennis J. Klein, was relieved of command, and chief of the boat, Master Chief Electronics Technician (Submarines) Don W. Williams, was relieved of duties as COB by Capt. James Pitts due to a loss of confidence in their abilities to serve effectively as commanding officer and chief of the boat.

The U.S. Navy holds those in positions of command to very high standards and accountable when those standards are not met. When those in leadership positions fail to meet these high standards and superiors lose confidence in their ability to lead, they are removed from positions of command authority.

The reliefs of Klein and Williams were related to shortfalls in professional performance leading to leadership’s loss of confidence in their ability to serve in positions of command authority.

Klein, who took command of USS Columbia in August 2010, has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Commander Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Capt. Dennis Boyer, deputy commander of SUBRON 7, has assumed command of USS Columbia until a permanent replacement is named. Boyer previously commanded the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Miami (SSN 755).

Williams, who reported as COB of USS Columbia in September 2009 has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Naval Submarine Support Command, Pearl Harbor.

Command Master Chief (Submarines) Manuel Meneses, Submarine Squadron 7 Command Master Chief, has assumed responsibilities as COB until a permanent replacement is named. Meneses previously served as COB aboard the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690).

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Naval Today Staff, May 03, 2012;