Cmdr. Jason Weed relieved Cmdr. Sean Fujimoto as commanding officer of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) during a change of command ceremony held onboard the submarine at U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, April 13.
Fujimoto became the third commanding officer of USS New Hampshire when he assumed command December 17, 2012. He enlisted in the Navy following graduation from Westover Senior High School in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1988. While successfully completing Nuclear Field “A” School as an electronics technician and Naval Nuclear Power School, he was selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. Fujimoto then went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from The George Washington University.
Fujimoto will next report to the Director, Undersea Warfare on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C.
Weed enlisted in the Navy following graduation from Northwestern Lehigh High School in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, in 1990. While serving onboard USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630B) as a fire control technician (ballistic) he completed his qualification in Submarines and was selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.
New Hampshire was commissioned in October 2008 and was the fifth ship in the Virginia class and the first Block II submarine. The submarine is designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.
The crew of more than 130 Sailors can operate the 377-foot-long vessel at depths greater than 800 feet and speeds in excess of 25 knots when submerged.
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Image: US Navy