USS Frank Cable Holds Change of Command Ceremony

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Erickson, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- USS Frank Cable (AS 40) held a change of command ceremony pierside on Polaris Point, Jan. 31.

Capt. Mark Benjamin relieved Capt. Pete Hildreth as commanding officer.

Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer, commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the guest speaker at the ceremony where he congratulated Hildreth and the crew of Frank Cable on a job well done.

"Pete, you and your Frank Cable team, really hit the ball out of the park in each and every thing we've asked you all to do," said Sawyer.

Sawyer presented the Legion of Merit award to Hildreth for his accomplishments during his time as commanding officer.

During Hildreth's tenure as commanding officer, the ship completed more than 10,000 jobs in support of submarines and surface vessels in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets area of responsibility and earned numerous awards.

Hildreth will be reporting to Commander, Strike Group 5 as chief of staff in Atsugi, Japan.

Benjamin, a native of Florida, received his commission in 1989 from the NROTC at the George Institute of Technology and most recently served as Commanding Officer of USS Key West (SSN 722).

Benjamin said he is excited to command Frank Cable, and hopes to exemplify the significance of the Navy's submarine tender force during his time aboard.

"We must highlight to those outside our submarine lifelines, that the tenders are not only indispensable repair platforms, but also viable platforms for international humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, theater security cooperation, and for critical war fighting support," said Benjamin.

Frank Cable, forward-deployed to the island of Guam, conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet's Area of Responsibility.