Navy Capt. Richard Verbeke, of Jefferson, serves 38 years

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — Capt. Gerhard Somlai relieved Capt. Richard Verbeke of Jefferson Township as Commander, Regional Support Group (RSG) Groton and Naval Submarine Support Facility New London, Conn., during a change of command ceremony held at U.S. Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, March 27.

Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander, Submarine Forces, was the guest speaker.

"Our country's future depends heavily on the success of the Navy and the success of the Navy depends heavily on the ability of the Submarine Force to deliver," said Connor. "That is because there are missions that must be done that only submarines can do. Under the skillful leadership of Capt. Verbeke, the RSG team has ensured that eight submarines were returned to me in peak material condition after critical repairs were made with zero safety mishaps.

"They coordinated more than 20 fly-away teams overseas to support emergent repairs and keep us mission-capable. I rest a little easier knowing that the RSG Groton has exceptional Sailors working and providing the best service possible to the fleet, helping us maintain mission and operational readiness at all times."

Connor then presented Verbeke with his third Legion of Merit Award for meritoriously "guiding five commands and a diverse workforce consisting of more than 500 military and federal service personnel and another 300 contractors in the maintenance, testing and inspection of 16 nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines."

As RSG Commander, Verbeke served as the Atlantic Fleet submarine force's direct waterfront representative to direct, assign, and monitor the accomplishment of intermediate and depot-level repairs and modernizations on submarines in Groton, Connecticut, and the northeastern region.

A native of Jefferson Township, Verbeke enlisted in the Navy in February 1977 as a nuclear electrician's mate. He was advanced to chief petty officer in 1984, and was commissioned as an ensign under the Limited Duty Officer Program in March 1986.

During his almost four decades of Naval service Verbeke has served in a myriad of sea and shore assignments in his progression from junior enlisted to senior enlisted to junior officer to senior officer.

His sea assignments have included the Electrical Division onboard the Sturgeon-class attack submarine USS Richard B. Russell (SSN 687), homeported in Groton, Connecticut, where he qualified in submarines and received his silver dolphins; Electrical Division leading chief petty officer onboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700), homeported in Groton; the submarine tender USS Simon Lake (AS 33), homeported in Holy Loch, Scotland, where he qualified surface warfare officer; quality assurance officer on the staff of Commander, Submarine Group 7 Representative Guam embarked on the Hunley-class submarine tender USS Holland (AS 32); and as production management assistant on the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS McKee (AS 41), homeported in San Diego.

Shore assignments have included instructor duty at Nuclear Propulsion Training Unit, Windsor, Connecticut; assistant radiological controls officer at Naval Submarine Support Facility, New London, Connecticut; assistant material officer, Commander Submarine Squadron 2, Groton; ship repair officer at Submarine Squadron Support Unit, New London; submarine project superintendent at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; executive officer, Naval Station Pearl Harbor; Production Management Assistant, Naval Submarine Support Facility, New London; deputy commander of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard; commanding officer, Trident Refit Facility, Kings Bay, Ga.; and Commander, Regional Support Group, Groton.

Somlai's previous command was at the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he served as chief, Global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Space Division.

"Today, I am honored to be taking over the leadership of an organization with a large team of professionals going above and beyond the call of duty in doing extraordinary things with limited resources to get submarines to sea," said Somlai, a native of Somers, New York. "Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I am looking forward to being part of this remarkable team.

"Capt. Verbeke, thanks for helping me understand this vast and diverse organization. You have turned over a well-trained, motivated team. You can be proud of them and what you have accomplished here. Good luck in your future and in the next stage of your journey."

Following the change of command ceremony Verbeke closed the book on his active duty service and retired from the U.S. Navy.

Vice Adm. Joseph P. Mulloy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources, recognized his accomplishments.

"There is no greater honor than to be here and be able to participate in today's festivities for a great friend, thank you for asking me to speak at your retirement," said Mulloy. "It is a wonderful occasion and a great pleasure to be here in my old home, Groton, to take part in the retirement ceremony to celebrate the end of an "era" - retiring Rich Verbeke is such a large "passing" that we may find archeologists wandering around if they get the word that this is another end of the "age of the dinosaurs"! I believe only the CNO, of all active duty officers, entered Nuclear School before Rich.

"Thanks for all you have done — you have made a lasting difference to both our submarine and surface warfare forces and the larger Navy. I have no doubt having spent some quality time with you, that you have learned a lot from your yesterdays of experiences in our great Navy and I know you look forward to the experiences that await you in retirement. Enjoy it. You clearly deserve it. As you move forward in your next journey in life — I wish you and your family the very best. Thank you and may God bless the Verbekes, our Submarine Force, our Navy and our Nation."

Upon retiring, Verbeke relinquished his status as the U.S. Navy's Silver Eagle, a ceremonial title he assumed in June 2013 recognizing him as the Navy's most senior Limited Duty Officer. Verbeke presented the Silver Eagle and Horseshoe Award to Capt. Daniel P. Henderson, who is stationed at Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic headquartered in Norfolk, Va.

The Silver Eagle was created in 2002 in recognition of the dedicated service careers of LDO personnel. The Silver Eagle is a reminder to each recipient of the challenges and accomplishments they experienced during their Naval tour as well as the responsibility to mentor the future of the Navy - the Sailors.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic, visit www.navy.mil/local/sublant.