CAPT George M. Vahsen
CAPT George M. Vahsen
26 Jun 1965 - 16 Sep 1968

Biography for Captain George Martin Vahsen

LT George M. Vahsen CAPT George M. Vahsen was born in Port Chester, New York on January 10, 1928. He served three years enlisted service in Naval Aviation ratings following graduation from high school. He received a fleet appointment to the Naval Academy preparatory school in 1947 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952.

He continued his naval career aboard USS CONWAY (DD 507). Following his training at submarine school, he served aboard USS TRIGGER (SS 564), and USS SKIPJACK (SSN 585), and USS ROBERT E. LEE (SSBN 601). From 1962 to 1963 he served as Squadron Engineering Officer for Commander Submarine Squadron FOURTEEN at Holy Lock, Scotland. He then served as Executive Officer aboard USS THOMAS JEFFERSON (SSBN 618) BLUE. From 1965 to 1968 he commanded the nuclear attack submarine USS SARGO (SSN 583), earning the Navy Commendation Medal.

Change of Command Ceremony  
In 1968 he assumed command of Submarine Division ELEVEN at Pearl Harbor. Following this he served as Prospective Commanding Officer Instructor and Tactical Development Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, for which he received the Meritorious Service Medal in 1972. He won the Legion of Merit Award while serving as Director of the Undersea Warfare Division of the Office of Naval Intelligence on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations from 1972 to 1973. He received a second Legion of Merit award while serving as Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut from 1973 to 1976. The next two years he served as Deputy Director, Strategic Submarine Division and Deputy TRIDENT Program Coordinator in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. He received a second Navy Commendation Medal. He served as Deputy Director of Athletics and Director of Physical Education at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1978 until his death of a heart attack in 1980.   CAPT George M. Vahsen

CAPT George M. Vahsen Vahsen Hall, the Damage Control Building at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut was dedicated in his honor in 1988. The varsity baseball locker room in Fitzgerald Clubhouse at the U.S. Naval Academy is also named for him.   CAPT George M. Vahsen

USS TRIGGER
(SS 564) 		USS SKIPJACK
(SSN 585) 		USS ROBERT E. LEE
(SSBN 601) 		USS THOMAS JEFFERSON
(SSBN 618) 		USS SARGO
(SSN 583)