USS Alabama Gets New Commander

The Blue crew of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama (SSBN 731) welcomed their new commanding officer during a ceremony at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Dec. 18.

Cmdr. Paul Reinhardt relieved Cmdr. Brad Terry, who assumed command of the Blue crew in May 2012, completed four strategic deterrent patrols, earned the 2013 Navy League’s Trident Submarine Outstanding Performance Award and the Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award for 2012 and 2013.

Terry turned over command to Reinhardt and bid farewell to his crew. His next assignment will be to the Staff of Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he will serve as the Tactical Readiness Evaluation Senior Member.

Reinhardt most recently served as the deputy chief of the Joint Staff’s Information Management Division.

Alabama is one of eight Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines stationed at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington, providing the survivable leg of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces.

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Press release, Image: US Navy