SSN 777 Club | Meet the Crew

Meet the Crew

CDR Michael W. Fritts

Commanding Officer

Commander Fritts is a native of Carrollton, Georgia. He was commissioned in 2007 through the Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He graduated in 2006 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.

His career as a nuclear submarine officer has included assignments afloat as division officer on USS LOUISVILLE (SSN 724), engineer officer on USS TEXAS (SSN 775), and executive officer on USS ALABAMA (SSBN 731) (GOLD), completing multiple Western Pacific Deployments and Strategic Deterrent Patrols.

Ashore, he served as the At-Sea Operational Assessment and Training Support Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, executive officer and junior board member of the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, and shift engineer at moored training ship DANIEL WEBSTER (MTS 626).

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

LCDR James Vangel

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) James M. Vangel, a Hope Mills, NC native, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and holds a Master of Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology. LCDR Vangel relieved as executive officer of the USS NORTH CAROLINA (SSN 777) in September 2025.

His career as a nuclear submarine officer has included assignments afloat as division officer on USS CHARLOTTE (SSN 766) where he completed a Western Pacific deployment and as Weapons Officer on USS KENTUCKY (BLUE) (SSN 737B) where he completed four strategic deterrent patrols.

Ashore, he served as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Naval Science at NROTCU Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA and as Weapon System Evaluation Branch Head at Naval Ordnance Test Unit in Cape Canaveral, FL.
His personal decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards) and various unit and campaign awards. LCDR Vangel resides in Aiea, HI with his wife and two children.

MMACM (SS) Jacob Newsome

Chief of the Boat

MMACM (SS) Jacob Newsome was born in Blountstown, FL in June 1983 and joined the Navy in August 2001.

Master Chief Newsome departed Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL in October 2001 and graduated Basic Enlisted Submarine School, NAVSUBSCOL in Groton, CT during the Winter of 2002 and reported to the fleet as a striker.

Master Chief Newsome completed his first sea tour aboard USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (SSN 708), home ported at Naval Station Norfolk, qualifying in Submarines in February 2003, and completed two deployments and two short dry docking
availabilities.

Master Chief Newsome’s additional tours include Leading Petty Officer, Reactor Auxiliary Division, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77); Auxiliary Division Leading Petty Officer, USS California (SSN 781); Master Training Specialist and Leading Chief Petty Officer for Basic Enlisted Submarine School and 774 Class Auxiliarymen Equipment Pipeline, NAVSUBSCOL; 3M Coordinator, USS Vermont (SSN 792); and Damage Control Assistant, COMSUBRON ONE.

Master Chief Newsome’s most recent assignment was Chief of the Boat, USS Mississippi (SSN 782) where he completed a successful Western Pacific deployment as the Pacific Fleet’s leading Naval Special Warfare platform, employing the first-ever use of the MK11 Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV). Additionally, COB Newsome oversaw the first integration of Enlisted Women in Submarines and AUKUS Sailors for a Pacific Fleet Virginia Class submarine.

His personal decorations include Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

Master Chief Newsome is blessed to live with his amazing wife Elizabeth, a talented daughter, and adventurous son in Pearl Harbor, HI.