Keyport, Wash. - USS Connecticut (SSN 22) bid farewell to their commanding officer, CDR Ian Johnson, during a change of command ceremony at the Naval Undersea Museum, Sept. 5.

With the traditional reading of orders and a motivational battle cry "Hooyah Two Two" from the sailors he commanded, Johnson turned over his boat and crew to CDR Brian Taddiken.

Johnson said he is proud of having had the opportunity to be in command of Connecticut and working with a fantastic team of sailors.

"Leading you all has been the most rewarding and humbling honor of my career," said Johnson of his crew. "You are all heroes in my book. You are the best there is. You kept us at sea when we had a job to do and you continued to touch excellence, and to display grit, determination, and resiliency every day, for two years, in a challenging shipyard environment. I cannot thank you enough. I want you to know that what you do every day matters and has been of tremendous value to aiding in our national security. Thank you for what you do."

Taddiken said of his new crew, "I am humbled by the sacrifices you and your families make at work and at home. You should be proud of these sacrifices and yourselves. Because of you, Connecticut has a tremendously positive reputation for high performance in the face of adversity."

Taddiken, a native of Tacoma, Wash., and a United States Naval Academy graduate, most recently served as the Deputy Commander for Readiness on the staffs of Commander, Submarine Squadrons 1 and 7. He is looking forward to the challenge of getting Connecticut back to sea once they complete the Depot Modernization Period. Johnson's next assignment will be at U.S. Pacific Command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.