Naval Submarine Support Center (NSSC) Bangor welcomed a new commanding officer, Feb. 11, as Cmdr. James Christie turned over command to Cmdr. Eugene Nemeth in a ceremony at the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor chapel.

“NSSC is a great group of professionals that truly do run the waterfront in Bangor,” said Christie, who had served as commander of NSSC since October 2008.

“It is without a doubt the highlight of my career and it is with great sorrow that I relinquish command of this outstanding command.  I turn over a great group to Cmdr. Nemeth, and I am sure he will love his tour as much as I did.”

Christie will remain at Bangor for his next assignment, serving as maintenance/material readiness and training department head for Submarine Group 9. His future commander, Rear Adm. Bob Hennegan, emphasized the highlights of Christie’s tour at NSSC.

“Jim Christie is a key player — a central figure — in the operational excellence of our Trident submarine force,” said Hennegan. “He’s overseen numerous refits and two refueling overhauls for our SSBNs based here. And Jim is doing all of this at Bangor, one of the most dynamic environments in the submarine community — and, in fact, in the entire U.S. Navy.”

Before his assignment to NSSC, Nemeth commanded the Blue Crew of the Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730).

“I’m extremely proud to be stepping into this assignment, and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead,” said Nemeth.