The US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) held a change of command ceremony today, May 15, as Cmdr. Patrick Friedman was relieved by Cmdr. David Edgerton as commanding officer, at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park.
During his more than two years in command, Friedman successfully led a Western Pacific deployment during which the submarine’s crew earned a 2014 Battle Efficiency “E” award. Friedman commanded his submarine through a technologically advanced tactical development exercise, subsequently earning Columbia the highest possible grade on an operational reactor safeguards exam.
During the ceremony, Friedman was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, recognizing his success while in command of Columbia from October 2012 to May 2015.
USS Columbia, commissioned in 1995, was the last Los Angeles-class submarine to be built at Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. One of the most versatile ships in the world, the submarine is capable of executing numerous dynamic mission functions including long-range Tomahawk strike capabilities, anti-submarine and surface ship tracking operations, surveillance and intelligence gathering, and special operations force insertions.
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Image: US Navy