USS Iowa holds change of command ceremony
GROTON, Connecticut – Cmdr. Gregory Coy turned over command of the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Iowa (SSN 799) to Cmdr. Kyle Haubold in a traditional change-of-command ceremony held Friday, Aug. 28, aboard the Historic Ship Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
Capt. Thomas Flaherty, commander, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 4, presided over the ceremony. Rear Adm. Andrew Miller, director of Undersea Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N97), served as the guest speaker, delivering a keynote that praised the culture of trust and leadership established under Coy’s tenure.
“Commander Coy took a personal interest in the development of every Sailor at his command, which paid huge dividends, as Iowa has a strong reputation of professionalism and expertise in submarine,” Miller said. “From the department heads on the con, [to] the junior Sailors completing their submarine qualification walkthrough with him, every member of Iowa learned from their skipper and became more competent submariners because of his mentorship.”
Coy, a Walnutport, Pennsylvania native and 2006 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, took command of Iowa in June 2024. Coy led the crew from the shipyard and through a series of sea trials, culminating in its commissioning in April 2025 and ensuing underway operations.
"We rely on each and every member of the crew to know their job, do their job, and teach their job to the next generation,” Coy said. “This ceremony is symbolic of the fact that no one person will define Iowa or any warship. Instead, it is defined by what the crew, every single one of you, do every day to earn your dolphins and become better warfighters.”
Coy’s next duty station will be as deputy for Commander, Submarine Squadron 1 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His previous submarine tours include USS Bremerton (SSN 698), USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and USS Hartford (SSN 768).
“Our Nation has entrusted us with one of the most capable warships ever built, and it expects us to be ready when called,” Haubold said. “That readiness is built every single day: in our maintenance, our training, our technical competence, our honesty, and the standards we uphold.”
Haubold, an Arlington, Texas native and 2008 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, previously served aboard the submarines USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), USS Kentucky (SSBN 737)(Gold), and USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795).
Iowa was commissioned on April 5, 2025. SSN 797 is the fourth U.S. Navy ship named for the state of Iowa with the most recent BB-61 (1943-1990) seeing action in World War II, Korean War, and Gulf War. The submarine Iowa has a crew of more than 130 personnel, is more than 377 feet long and can displace nearly 7,900 tons.
The Virginia-class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions. Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise.
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