A Regional Support Group (RSG) Groton change of command ceremony was held at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Dec. 14.
Capt. Richard E. Verbeke relieved Capt. Mark S. VanYe as Commander of RSG Groton.
Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge , commander, Submarine Group 2, the featured speaker, reflected on VanYe’s leadership and the skillsets required in managing the expansive waterfront maintenance programs and responsibilities in Groton.
“Capt. VanYe has dynamic vision, keen judgment, and gritty practical sense that drove profound institutional change while vastly improving operational readiness,” said Breckenridge. “Many leaders of the submarine force responded to the call of the Design for Undersea Warfare to enhance warfighting readiness and operational performance. Quite frankly, none came close to matching the depth and breadth of Mark VanYe’s personal impact. His extensive force-wide overhaul of the Intermediate Maintenance cycle radically improved SSN operational readiness and will continue to serve as the benchmark for the force for many years to come.”
Breckenridge further emphasized the indefatigable work ethic VanYe put forth during his time at RSG by expertly managing “Nine hundred personnel through a period of profound organizational change while performing 59 scheduled maintenance availabilities and other emergent repair periods encompassing over 3.3 million man-hours of highly skilled work on 15 ships.”
VanYe, a resident of Ledyard, Conn., will leave Groton to assume duties as the Chief of Staff of Commander, Submarine Group 9 at Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Wash. During his change of command speech, VanYe thanked his command personnel for their steadfast devotion of duty to successfully return Groton’s invaluable at-sea assets to sea on time and under budget.
“It has been an honor to lead RSG Groton. The dedicated professionals on the RSG staff and its seven subordinate units are the unsung heroes of the Groton waterfront,” said VanYe. “The unique team of Sailors, government civilians, and contracted personnel maintain our ships in the best possible condition, ensuring our Sailors and leadership can count on each and every shipboard system to be ready when the ship is called into action. The submarine force is truly fortunate to have this dedicated team supporting its ships. I have been privileged to lead them.”
Previous to assuming command of RSG in Groton, Verbeke, a native of Jefferson Township, N.J., served as commanding officer, TRIDENT Refit Facility in Kings Bay, Ga., where he led a team of 1,700 civilian and military personnel. Verbeke reflected on returning to the Groton waterfront during the ceremony.
“It is great being back once again on the Groton waterfront,” said Verbeke. “I am passionate about submarine maintenance and looking forward to being a part of the waterfront team and leading one of the finest repair facilities in the Submarine Force.”
RSG Groton serves as Commander, Submarine Force’s direct waterfront representative, directing, assigning and monitoring the accomplishment of intermediate and depot-level repairs and modernizations for the submarine squadrons at Naval Submarine Base New London.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 17, 2012