PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Virginia-class submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Aug. 23 after completing a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
This is Texas' first deployment since changing homeports to Pearl Harbor in November 2009. She successfully completed her maiden deployment to the Eastern Pacific and operated under the tactical control of Joint Inter-Agency Task Force, South from May to August 2010. During the deployment, Texas successfully conducted joint operations enhancing national security.
"I am extremely proud of my crew's tenacious can do attitude which resulted in a very successful deployment," said Cmdr. Bob Roncska, Texas commanding officer. "Our ability to rapidly respond to a myriad of tasking over an extended period of time is a testament to the ships' remarkable design and capabilities."
While away from homeport, the crew earned a sea service ribbon, which was the first for 76 Texas Sailors. Additionally, 23 Sailors achieved a significant career milestone by receiving the enlisted submarine warfare qualification also known as "dolphins". Fire Control Technician 2nd Class Kevin Miller from Jacksonville, Fla., became qualified during the deployment.
"Earning my dolphins has been a goal of mine since I joined the Navy," said Miller. "I am extremely proud to be a submariner assigned to USS Texas and would not have it any other way."
Commissioned Sept. 9, 2006, Texas was the second Virginia-class attack submarine constructed and the first submarine to be named after the Lone Star state.
The state-of-the-art submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.
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