A new officer in charge for the Historic Ship Nautilus
Jul. 12—GROTON — In a change of charge ceremony Wednesday at Nautilus Pier, speakers celebrated Lt. Cmdr. Derek Sutton for his leadership, including during work to preserve the Nautilus for the next three decades, while welcoming Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Chapman to start the ship's "next chapter."
Sutton, outgoing officer in charge of Historic Ship Nautilus and director of the Submarine Force Museum, turned over charge to Chapman while standing on the historic submarine with other Navy leaders. About 100 people, including sailors, Navy representatives, veterans, local officials, staff and crew of the Nautilus, museum association members, and families of Sutton and Chapman, looked on from the pier on the sunny morning.
Sutton, who took charge in April 2021, was credited for his leadership during the $31 million preservation of the Nautilus that was completed on time and under budget. He also was praised for helping the Nautilus and the Submarine Force Museum rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Captain Matthew Tharp, chief of staff of Naval History and Heritage Command, said Sutton's "extraordinary leadership during unprecedented times was invaluable as this tremendous ship is once again available to the public, and interest in the museum and the ship are soaring to new levels after the COVID-19 pandemic."
Tharp said Chapman, who is from Wadsworth, Ohio, and most recently was weapons officer at the Naval Submarine School, represents "the next chapter in the storied history of Nautilus" and the Submarine Force Museum, one of only 10 U.S. Navy museums. Tharp said he has all the confidence in the world that the success of the museum and ship will continue under Chapman's watch.
Speakers reflected on the significance of the Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine which was built at Electric Boat and commissioned in 1954. Nautilus became the first vessel to reach the geographic North Pole.
Nautilus, the only U.S. nuclear-powered vessel that is open for public tours, has "told the stories of the bold and courageous submariners that serve aboard her and all the U.S. submarines" since 1986, said Capt. Daniel Rossler, commanding officer of Regional Support Group Groton.
Speakers noted the ties between the community and the submarine museum, which is located in a nearly perfect location for a submarine museum: between Electric Boat, where submarines are designed and built, and the Naval Submarine Base, said retired Rear Adm. John Padgett, the president of the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association.
Captain Kenneth Curtin Jr., commanding officer of Naval Submarine Base New London, who welcomed attendees to the "gateway to the submarine force," said the ship and museum see about 100,000 visitors each year.
When Sutton took charge in 2021, Sutton faced unique challenges as the museum was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Curtin said.
Curtin said Sutton and his team used that time to update and modernize displays and develop a new augmented-reality program that allows visitors to visually engage in interactive displays and experience submarine life. The team also educated people through social media and online outlets.
During his time in charge, Sutton and his team also got Nautilus underway for a significant preservation project and ensured its safe return, Curtin said.
Padgett, who had also reflected on Sutton's leadership during the pandemic and the preservation project, said that while $36 million was available for the preservation, Sutton and his team got it done for about $31 million.
Sutton, who is from upstate New York, will next head to the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
Curtin said he's confident that under Chapman's leadership, Nautilus and the Submarine Force Museum "will continue raising the bar to even new heights."
Sutton, who received a Meritorious Service Medal during the ceremony, thanked everyone for their continued support for the museum. He said that support "is absolutely vital to maintain our ability to continue to collect, preserve, interpret and teach about the U.S. Submarine Force and the stories of the bold and courageous sailors that protect our country from the depths."
Chapman said Sutton "is leaving behind a legacy of professional coordination and mission accomplishment that will not soon be forgotten."
"The work the crew and staff accomplished on his watch have left the ship in excellent material condition and the museum ready to execute modernization plans that will take us decades into the future," Chapman said.
Chapman said he proudly accepts responsibility of looking after the crew members' personal and professional development during his tour here, and he is ready to get to work.
"We're going to embrace and honor our past," he said. "We're going to lean forward into modern technology to better tell our story in the future. We're going to leverage every available resource to forge and maintain a personal relationship between the United States submarine force and the American public ― and we are going to crush it."
