USS Indiana Holds Change of Command Ceremony in Connecticut

Written from press release:

GROTON, Conn. — June 13, 2025 — The U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789), named in honor of the Hoosier State, held a change of command ceremony Friday at Naval Submarine Base New London.

Cmdr. Kyle McVay, who has led the submarine since June 2023, formally turned over command to Cmdr. Kyle Johnson during a traditional pierside ceremony. The Indiana is a Virginia-class submarine and the fourth Navy vessel to bear the state’s name.

Capt. Philip Castellano, commander of Submarine Squadron 12, presided over the ceremony and praised McVay’s leadership, stating, “Under your leadership, USS Indiana has been the kind of submarine that keeps the enemy up at night.”

“You’ve built a cohesive, high-performing team,” Castellano added. “Know that you leave behind a legacy of excellence.”

McVay, a native of Springfield, Virginia and a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, will now serve as Military Assistant to the Undersecretary for Nuclear Security and the National Nuclear Security Agency in Washington, D.C. During his remarks, he credited the crew for making the assignment a career and life highlight.

“Commanding a fast-attack submarine is the highlight of any submarine officer’s career,” McVay said. “But it’s the relationships and shared experiences with this crew that made it the highlight of my life.”

Cmdr. Johnson, originally from Hitterdal, Minnesota and a 2007 graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, praised his predecessor and the crew he now leads.

“Your leadership, steady hand, and commitment to this team have laid the foundation for Indiana’s continued success,” Johnson said. “It’s an incredible honor to stand before you as the fifth commanding officer of USS Indiana.”

In the past 18 months, the Indiana completed a six-month deployment, conducted a historic trip to the North Pole, and is preparing for a homeport change.

Commissioned in 2018, the USS Indiana is 377 feet long, displaces nearly 7,900 tons, and operates with a crew of over 130. It follows in the legacy of the battleship USS Indiana (BB-58), which served in the Pacific during World War II. Earlier ships bearing the name include BB-1 (commissioned in 1895) and BB-50, a canceled 1920s battleship.

Fast-attack submarines like Indiana play a crucial role in the Navy’s strategic operations, conducting missions that include surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, strike operations, and support for special forces.

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