Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Unit name	Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Caption	Command emblem
Dates	1941–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Fleet command
Role	Submarine warfare
Size	Submarines, personnel, and shore facilities
Command structure	United States Pacific Fleet , United States Indo-Pacific Command
Garrison	Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii
Current commander	Vice Admiral Stephen T. Koehler
Notable commanders	Charles A. Lockwood, John H. Maurer, Alfred G. Ward

Contents

History
Organization
Responsibilities
List of commanders
Subordinate units
See also

Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal United States Navy authority for all submarine forces operating across the Pacific Ocean and Indo-Pacific region. The command, headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, exercises operational control over attack, ballistic missile, and cruise missile submarines assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet. It is a vital component of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, providing strategic deterrence and undersea warfare capabilities.

History

The command traces its origins to the Pacific Submarine Force established during World War II, playing a decisive role in the Pacific War under leaders like Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood. Its submarines executed a highly successful commerce raiding campaign against the Imperial Japanese Navy, crippling Japanese merchant shipping and participating in key battles like the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Following the war, the force was instrumental in developing Cold War-era strategies, with USS *Nautilus* pioneering nuclear propulsion. The command's focus shifted to strategic deterrence with the introduction of the *George Washington*-class SSBNs and later the *Ohio*-class, operating from bases like Naval Submarine Base Bangor. In the post-Cold War era, it has been central to operations in the Persian Gulf, the Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea.

Organization

The command is organized under a vice admiral and is a major component of the United States Pacific Fleet. Its primary subordinate operational commands include Commander, Submarine Group 7 in Yokosuka, Japan, and Commander, Submarine Group 9 at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington. Key shore-based support and training commands are Commander, Submarine Squadron 1 and Commander, Submarine Squadron 7 in Hawaii, along with the Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific. The command also oversees specialized units such as Submarine Development Squadron 5, responsible for developing undersea warfare tactics and integrating new technologies like unmanned underwater vehicles.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include providing combat-ready submarine forces to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and United States Indo-Pacific Command for missions encompassing strategic deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence collection, and special operations forces support. The command is tasked with the operational readiness, training, and certification of Pacific submarine crews and squadrons. It also manages the strategic deterrent patrols conducted by *Ohio*-class SSBNs from Naval Base Kitsap, a cornerstone of the U.S. nuclear triad. Furthermore, it coordinates bilateral and multilateral exercises with allies such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Navy, and the Royal Australian Navy.

List of commanders

Notable commanders have included World War II pioneer Charles A. Lockwood and Cold War-era leaders like John H. Maurer and Alfred G. Ward. Recent commanders are typically senior submarine warfare officers who have previously commanded squadrons and numbered fleets. The position is a stepping stone to higher flag officer ranks, with many former commanders later serving as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet or in senior roles at the Pentagon or United States Strategic Command. The current commander is Vice Admiral Stephen T. Koehler.

Subordinate units

Major subordinate units include operational groups such as Commander, Submarine Group 7 and Commander, Submarine Group 9, which oversee forward-deployed and homeported submarines. Key submarine squadrons are Commander, Submarine Squadron 1, Commander, Submarine Squadron 7, Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, and Commander, Submarine Squadron 19, responsible for the readiness of specific boats. Specialized commands include Submarine Development Squadron 5 and the Undersea Rescue Command. The command also exercises administrative control over shore facilities like Naval Submarine Support Center, New London and training units including the Naval Submarine School.