BANGOR — Former President Jimmy Carter attended the change of command ceremony for the submarine named in his honor — the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) — May 29 at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor.

Cmdr. Melvin Smith relieved Cmdr. Brian Elkowitz as commanding officer of the Seawolf-class attack submarine at Deterrent Park at the base.

“What makes me so proud is to have been the only submariner to have served as commander in chief and also to have a submarine named after me,” Carter said.

“Of all the honors I have ever received, I’ve never had anything of greater honor than the chance to be the namesake of USS Jimmy Carter.”

Carter is one of six living people with ships named after them. He has been actively interested in the ship over the course of its life and previously visited during its christening and commissioning.

Carter remains the only U.S. president to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy as well as the only one to qualify on submarines. Graduating in 1946, he served in the Navy until 1953. He served as governor of Georgia from 1971-75 and as president of the United States from 1977-81.

The ship’s sponsor, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, also attended the event. Tradition holds that a sponsor’s spirit and presence guides a ship and her crew throughout its service life.

During Elkowitz’s command tour, which began in March 2012, the crew of the USS Jimmy Carter completed five missions vital to national security and underwent a 17-month-long docking phased maintenance availability period.

“I could not have asked for a better ship, crew and supporting cast,” Elkowitz said. “I am incredibly lucky to have been part of such an extremely talented team — a team that has accomplished so much for the Navy and our nation.”

online: Commander, Submarine Group 9.