New Commander for USS Nevada

A new commanding officer took charge of the Blue Crew of the ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) June 21 in a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor’s Deterrent Park.

Cmdr. James McIver relieved Cmdr. Alan Schrader.

“I did everything I could in this tour to ensure that Nevada met her mission tasking,” said Schrader. “And I couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support from this crew and the numerous organizations here in Bangor.”

Schrader assumed command of Nevada in January 2010, near the end of Nevada’s two-year engineered refueling overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and retained command of the Blue Crew during a crew split ceremony that July.

Following Nevada’s return to strategic service in the spring of 2011, Schrader took Nevada on its first deterrent patrol in more than three years – one of four patrols he would conduct as Blue Crew commanding officer.

“To get that ship back in operational shape and back on the front lines, to be able to do that with impeccable perfection, and to have those four patrols Alan was able to conduct without flaws – it is an incredible achievement,” said Rear Adm. Richard Breckenridge, director of the Undersea Warfare Division, who served as the ceremony’s guest speaker. “Alan, I commend you for your personal leadership and your loyalty to your crew.”

Schrader, who was recently selected for promotion to the rank of captain, has been assigned to the staff of Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, D.C.

“We truly are the ‘Silent Service,’ quietly accomplishing the mission with little to no fanfare,” Schrader said. “And we want our submarines to continue what they’re doing – silently accomplishing that mission of maintaining our national security as required by the President and our Department of Defense.”

McIver comes to Nevada from Washington, D.C., where he graduated from the National War College in June 2012 with a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy. The Boston native was previously assigned to USS Hampton (SSN 767) and USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) and served as Hampton’s executive officer from 2009-2011.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to be standing before you today as I take command of the good ship Nevada,” said McIver. “To the crew, I have had the opportunity to watch you in action, and your accomplishments are impressive. I know the ship is in very capable hands, and I look forward to serving with you all.”

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

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Press Release, June 25, 2013