610 Dowell Street will no longer be home to a Dowell.

Capt. Jonathan A. Dowell, commander of Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport, retired Thursday morning after 26 years of naval service, the last two years of which he served at Keyport.

Dowell’s grandfather, Capt. Jonathan S. Dowell, was the 12th commander of (then) Naval Torpedo Station Keyport from 1935 to 1937. The elder Dowell also lived at 610 Dowell Street during his tenure at Keyport.

“The Dowell legacy is long and distinguished here at Keyport,” said NUWC Technical Director Don McCormack.

McCormack told the crowd of hundreds gathered in the Naval Undersea Museum auditorium that he will miss Dowell’s presence at NUWC Division Keyport, as will the 2,000 Keyport employees he’s motivated during Dowell’s two-year tenure at the command.

“His enthusiasm is infectious and I’m amazed at the ease it comes from him,” McCormack said. “He’s motivated countless folks.”

Capt. Stephen Iwanowicz assumed command of NUWC Division Keyport at Thursday’s change of command ceremony. Iwanowicz comes to Keyport from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where he worked as the production resources officer.

“I have the distinct privilege of serving as the 38th commander of Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport and I’m ready for the challenge,” Iwanowicz said. “There’s no other place I’d rather be than here.”

While at Keyport, Dowell instilled his mantra, “They fight for us, we work for them,” in NUWC Division Keyport employees. A career nuclear submariner, Dowell took pride in knowing Keyport manufactured the best torpedos for the best Navy in the world, he told the crowd at the ceremony.

“It’s a just, honorable and noble cause and I’m proud to be a part of it,” he said.

Dowell repeatedly praised the Keyport employees for their hard work and dedication to serving the military. He accepted the Legion of Merit award on behalf of the Keyport employees he’s led for two years.

“When it comes to delivering the goods, Team Keyport is unstoppable,” Dowell said.

Dowell was presented with a flag that flew over Gettysburg, Pa. at some point and at NUWC Division Keyport that morning.

Dowell gave the flag to his mother, Virginia Trainor, because she supported her three sons, all career submariners, during their combined 71 years of military service.

Dowell, his wife Janet, 5-year-old son Seth and 3-year-old daughter Audrey now reside in Kennewick, Wash. Dowell will work for the Office of River Protection at the Department of Energy Hanford Site.