By Amanda R. Gray

U.S. Navy

BANGOR – The Blue and Gold Crews of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) were named the recipients of the 2015 Trident Submarine Outstanding Performance Award March 1, in a letter signed by Rear Adm. Frederick J. Roegge, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC).

The award, which is also known as the Olympic Bowl Trophy, is presented annually by the Bremerton-Olympic Peninsula Council of the Navy League to the top ballistic-missile submarine in the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

“Nevada consistently demonstrated superior performance in all mission areas throughout 2015 and was a top tactical, strategic and engineering performer,” said Rear Adm. David Kriete, commander, Submarine Group Nine.

“Nevada’s leadership is strongly committed to quality of service and each sailor’s professional development. Nevada is the most effective Trident submarine in the Pacific Northwest and an outstanding example of our nation’s strategic forces. Both crews performed exceptionally well and earned the Trident Submarine outstanding Performance Award.”

The Nevada crews demonstrated exceptional service throughout 2015, supporting the nation’s strategic deterrence mission with four patrols. Nevada also achieved superior marks in every readiness evaluation during the year, a process which helps determine the award recipient.

These areas include weapons system performance and readiness, navigation performance and practices, communication system performance, material condition and engineering readiness, personnel readiness, initiative in promoting new operational concepts and tactical readiness.

“Earning this prestigious award is a testament to the professionalism and hard work of the officers and crews of the USS Nevada Blue and Gold,” said Roegge.

Another important evaluation category is special recognition received from outside organizations. During 2015, Nevada’s outstanding performance resulted in being awarded the Pacific Submarine Force 2015 Battle Efficiency (Battle “E”) Award. Nevada’s Gold Crew was also awarded the 2015 Retention Excellence Award.

“I could not be more proud of my crew’s outstanding performance during 2015,” said Cmdr. Gene Severtson, Nevada’s Gold Crew commanding officer, from Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.

“None of Nevada’s many successes could have been possible without the Their commitment to sustaining superior operational readiness in support of our nation’s strategic mission is exceptionally noteworthy.”

The two crews are scheduled to receive the Olympic Bowl Trophy May 21 at the Bremerton Armed Forces Gala.