USS Boise (SSN 764) moors at Marathi NATO Pier Complex in Souda Bay, Greece, during a scheduled visit Dec. 23, 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeffrey M. Richardson/Released)
WASHINGTON — Rear Adm. Robert Gaucher has been nominated for a third star and to become the most senior operational submariner in the Navy’s fleet, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Gaucher is currently serving as the director of strategic innovation in the chief of naval operation’s office, also referred to as OPNAV. If confirmed, he would become the commander of naval submarine forces, a billet colloquially referred to as the “sub boss” in the Navy.
The current sub boss, Vice Adm. Bill Houston, was nominated to become director of the naval nuclear propulsion program and a fourth star, Breaking Defense reported on May 4.
The sub boss, and the other three-star “type commanders,” are primarily responsible to man, train and equip their respective communities.
Gaucher’s previous operational assignments include tours on the Flying Fish (SSN-673), Oklahoma City (SSN-723), Maryland (SSBN-738) City of Corpus Christi, and commodore of Submarine Development Squadron Five, according to his Navy biography.
Gaucher’s promotion comes at a key time for the US submarine force, as the US, UK and Australia begin implementing the historic sub-tech sharing AUKUS security arrangement. But it also comes at a politically tense time in Washington, as the confirmation for promotions such as his are effectively on hold.
The US has begun work in earnest with the United Kingdom and Australia to deliver the latter nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines. While the Navy’s “sub boss” is not involved in the building or purchasing of new boats, if confirmed, Gaucher will take command as more and more Aussie naval officers are brought aboard US boats as part of the broader AUKUS agreement.
Meanwhile, the nominations of more than 200 military general and flag officers remain stalled in the Senate where Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has maintained an effective hold on their confirmations until Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes changes to the Pentagon’s policies concerning abortion. Senate Democrats have blasted Tuberville’s actions as “reckless” and both harmful to national security and military families whose lives are put into limbo.
Rocket development builds on tried and true experience for new orbital missions
With Russian engines out of the picture, there’s a new Medium Launch Vehicle on the horizon that is US sourced with a fairing sized to launch constellations.
P-8 LRASM testing expected to wrap this summer, Boeing official says
Boeing will also soon begin flight testing a multimission pod developed with internal funds, according to company official Jon Spore.
