The turn of the fiscal year has brought with it a new organizational entity and a change in responsibilities for the Atlantic and Pacific Submarine Forces. On 1 October 2001, VADM John J. Grossenbacher, Commander, Submarine Forces U.S. Atlantic Fleet, assumed additional duties as Commander, Naval Sub-marine Forces (COMNAVSUBFOR). RADM John B. Padgett, II, Commander, Submarine Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet, assumed duties as his Deputy Commander.

In a message to the Submarine Force, VADM Grossenbacher noted that the creation of COMNAVSUBFOR improves alignment and efficiency by establishing standard fleet-wide practices on both coasts. “It creates a single voice for submarine readiness requirements, operational and technical needs,” Grossenbacher said in his message.  “The establishment of COMNAVSUBFOR will enable us to easily reduce the differences in policy, doctrine and procedures within the Submarine Force… the waterfront should be better served by this change.”

The establishment of this new “super type-commander” is part of the CNO’s vision of restructuring the Navy for greater emphasis on fleet operating forces. Both the Navy’s surface and air communities shifted to similar arrangements on 1 October.

“The purpose of this initiative is to achieve greater unity of effort in fulfilling the Title 10 responsibilities to organize, train and equip the United States Navy,” Grossenbacher said. However, for warfighting functions, Grossenbacher and Padgett remain the operational commanders in their respective theaters.