Volume 72 Number 7 July 9th Luncheon Speaker July 2019 Capt Michael Elmstrom, Commanding Community Afliates Ofcer Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific Alloy Capital Management CAPT Mike Elmstrom was AMI International born in Woodland, CA and Bradley W Orser CPA Inc PS raised in Leesburg, FL. Bremerton Historic Ships Assn He was commissioned BMI Hospatility through the NROTC program and graduated from Georgia Columbia Hospitality Institute of Technology . Corinthian Wealth Partners After completing the nuclear Evergreen Mayflower submarine training pipeline, First Command Financial Planning CAPT Elmstrom served on General Dynamics NASSCO USS SILVERSIDES (SSN 679) Kitsap Bank and Submarine Group TEN, USS TENNESSEE (SSBN 734, US Strategic Command. Kitsap Golf and Country Club In 2002, Captain Elmstrom lateral transferred to Kitsap Sun Engineering Duty Ofcer, earning a Master of Science McClouds Grill House in Mechanical Engineering from Naval Postgraduate Navy Federal Credit Union School in 2004. He reported to Portsmouth Naval Navy Museums NW Shipyard as Assistant Project Superintendent and Olympic College Foundation Of-yard Operations Ofcer. In 2007, he reported to Our Place Pub & Eatery NAVSEA’s Strategic and Attack Submarine Program Ofce (PMS 392) and returned in 2011, Captain Pacific NW Defense Coalition Elmstrom as Program Manager for Strategic and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Attack Submarines (PMS 392/SP21). Safe Boats International In 2014, he reported to Strategic Systems Programs Suquamish Clearwater Casino where he served as Deputy, Ship Integration Branch Veterans United Home Loans (NEW!!!) (SP26). Captain Elmstrom assumed command of Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific, Silverdale, Washington in September, 2016. He last spoke to us in June 2017. That presentation was great. We expect an equally great presentation this time. Our social hour begins at 11AM with the meeting starting at 11:45 in the Bangor Conference Center, Trident Ballroom, Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor. For lunch registration, please call Realty Station at 360 377-5699 as soon as possible. For members without base access, processing can take some days. We will take that job on if you call. When registering provide your name as it appears on your Driver's License and date and city of birth. Members without an Enhanced NOW HEAR THIS online: Driver's license must have a base escort. President's Corner Steve Westover July 2019 Presidents Corner Happy Hump month! We’re already half way through the year. Where has the time gone. I begin this month’s Presidents Corner on a sad note, by acknowledging the passing of one of our council’s most active members in Dr. Byron Faber. Byron was devoted to our council, supporting us both financially and with his time. He was “Mr. “Tours” for our council. To say he will be missed is an understatement. Our condolences go out to his wife Pat and family. I was honored to represent our council at the Navy League National Convention in Norfolk, where our council earned recognition for its outstanding web site and social media presentation. Alan Beam deserves the credit. He’s the web master and keeps the site updated, posting relevant and interesting articles about the sea services. Congrats Alan and thanks for all of your hard work! Also, congratulations to Larry Salter who was elected as the Northwest Regional President. Alan Beam, Larry Salter and I visited with the Commanding Ofcer, Executive Ofcer and Chief of the Boat of the USS Washington, one of our adopted units, while we were in Norfolk. We wanted to establish a working relationship with the boat and understand how we can support them for the upcoming deployment. We came away with several suggestions on what we can do to support them. Capt Elstrom, the Commanding Ofcer of the Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific (SWFPAC)will be our speaker for our July 9 luncheon. SWFPAC provides strategic missiles and strategic weapon system support to the fleet. See you all there. New Navy Puget Sound Navy Shipyard Commmander June 12th, Captain Dianna Wolfson relieved Captain Howard Markle as Commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) becoming the first female commander of a Navy shipyard. The Change of Command took place in the shipyard's historic building 460. Captain Wolfson commands both PSNS & IMF and the 15,000-plus civilian and military employees. We are attempting to schedule Captain Wolfson to speak at one of our Luncheons. NOW HEAR THIS online: http://bremolympicnlus.wordpress.com 2 USS Washington (SSN-787) Captain's Logbook As many of you know that in addition to being the lead Navy League council within the Commissioning Committee, the USS Washington (SSN-787) is Bremerton - Olympic Peninsula Council Adopted Unit. Below is the most recent comunication from the USS Washington to our Council. Hello again from the Blackfish! I hope everyone is well. Things have been pretty busy on board since my last log entry. We have completed a number of evaluations and certifications in preparation for our upcoming, maiden deployment. It’s been a steep learning curve, but the crew has proven up to the task and has been performing well as we continue to hone our warfighting skills. Additionally, Washington has successfully completed two pre-deployment maintenance periods, ensuring that she will be in top material condition when we get underway for deployment in the upcoming weeks. Since my last update, a number of personnel have reached career milestones. First off, I am happy to report that our Executive Officer, LCDR Chris Rose, was selected recently for Commander and also screened for Command! Additionally, our Engineer, LCDR Ryan Pifer, screened for Executive Officer. Both screened for their next career milestones on their first looks, which is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Furthermore, our new sonar chief, STSC Flood, was selected for Senior Chief. He has only been on board for a short time, but has already made a tremendous impact and has been performing at the level of a seasoned Senior Chief. We also advanced two of our best performing Sailors through the Meritorious Advancement Program, EMN1 Cook and STS2 Boone. Within the past month, we promoted a number of junior officers to Lieutenant and Lieutenant Junior Grade. Lastly, over 20 Sailors earned their Dolphins since my last log entry! These personal and professional accomplishments are indicative of the quality Sailors maintaining and operating Washington on a daily basis. Congratulations to all these Blackfish warriors of the deep! HM1 “Doc” Couch earned the White Medical “M,” which is awarded to the ship that possesses the best performing medical program. Not to be outdone, Engineering Department earned the Red Engineering “E” due to their sustained superior performance. That’s all I have to report for now. I’ll be sure to keep you apprised of our status as we complete the final preparations for Washington’s maiden deployment. Until next time, take care! Sincerely, Gabe Cavazos CDR USN Commanding Officer USS Washington (SSN 787) FEAR THE BLACKFISH! NOW HEAR THIS online: http://bremolympicnlus.wordpress.com 3 Trident Training Facility and USS Louisiana Tour Sixteen members of our Navy League Council toured Trident Training Facility (TTF) and USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) on March 14th. The Trident Training Facility provides the training and resources to support submarine of-crew training and proficiency. The group spent the morning touring Trident Training Facility and saw the many trainers used to train our SSBN crews, ensuring the SSBN crews remain proficient operators even when the other crew has the boat at sea. We were even able to operate the Dive and Drive Trainer with the motion on, getting a feel for submarine underway angles. Following the TTF tour we had lunch at the Naval Base Kitsap Trident Inn Galley. The Galley recently earned the Ney Award as the best galley in the Navy. Following lunch we visited the USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743). USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) is the 18th and last Trident Class SSBN and was commissioned in 1997. The USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) Sailors were outstanding hosts and our tour guides did an outstanding job showing of their submarine. A special thanks to Petty Ofcers Amanda Gray and Rebecca Ives from Submarine Group Nine who coordinated the tour for us and the Sailors at TTF and USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) for taking the time out of their busy schedules to show us what they do. Navy League Members who toured Trident Training Facility and USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) at Deterrent Park onboard Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. NOW HEAR THIS online: http://bremolympicnlus.wordpress.com 4 Memorial Day Observance aboard the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) Major Ricardo Flores, Commanding Ofcer of the Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle. spoke eloquently at Major Ricardo Flores Representative Derek the Memorial and RADM Kilmer and Major Day observance Douglas Ricardo Flores prepare Perry Commander to lay the Memorial Day Submarine Group 9 wreath Naval Station & USS Gridley (DDG-101) Tour Five members of our Navy League Council made the trek up to Naval Station Everett (NSE) to tour the USS GRIDLEY (DDG 101) on June 19th. Our visit started with a brief from CAPT Michael Davis, the Naval Station Everett Commanding Ofcer, on the missions the installation supports. Naval Staion Everett was designed to support a Carrier Battle Group and currently is the homeport to six Guided Missile Destroyers and a Coast Guard Buoy Tender. This was followed by a tour of the USS GRIDLEY (DDG 101). USS GRIDLEY (DDG 101) is the 51st Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. USS GRIDELY (DDG 101) was in the middle of preparing for her upcoming deployment and was the only ship present when we visited NSE with the other DDGs underway or deployed.