New commander aboard the USS Tennessee (Gold)

Cmdr. Jon Schaffner became the commanding officer of the Navy ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee (Gold) on March 24, relieving Cmdr. Christopher Bohner.

The Casper, Wyoming, native was previously the executive officer at the Undersea Warfighting Development Center, where he recently completed a deployment to the western Pacific as the executive officer aboard the USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) and earned the boat a Navy Unit Commendation.

According to K2 Radio, Schaffner is excited to work with his new crew: "Every day we will strive to be the best at protecting allies and fellow Americans with the credible, reliable, and survivable nuclear deterrent capability of the USS Tennessee. I look forward to serving as your captain and promise to give you my best as we accomplish our nation's highest priority mission of strategic deterrence together."

The USS Tennessee (Gold) was commissioned in December of 1988 and is the fourth Navy ship to be named after the state. The ceremony took place at the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia.

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