Meet the Crew
CDR Tad Robbins
Commanding Officer
​
CDR Tad Robbins, a Brazil, IN native, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
After completion of nuclear propulsion training in Charleston, SC and initial submarine officer training in Groton, CT, he reported to his first submarine, USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) homeported in Kings Bay, GA, where he served in multiple division officer roles and completed four strategic deterrent patrols. He served as the Engineer Officer on USS Columbus (SSN 762), completing Western Pacific and Southern Command deployments, and later served as the Executive Officer on USS Santa Fe (SSN 763), completing one Western Pacific deployment.
While ashore, CDR Robbins served as the submarine division officer shore duty detailer at Naval Personnel Command (PERS-42) in Millington, TN, and served as the Engineer Officer for the Commander, Submarine Squadron One. He completed his most recent assignment ashore as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
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.
ETVCS (SS/IW) Alex Jones
Chief of the Boat
​
A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Senior Chief Jones enlisted in the Navy on December 11, 2002. He graduated submarine navigation electronics technician “A” and “C” school in Groton, Connecticut. He later graduated from the Submarine Assistant Navigator course and attended both the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 219 Khaki) and the Chief of the Boat / Command Master Chief Course.
Senior Chief Jones reported to USS Charlotte (SSN 766) in January of 2004 after completion of his initial training. He served again aboard the USS Charlotte (SSN 766) as the Leading Petty Officer of Navigation Division in 2012; there he was selected for Chief Petty Officer in 2013. He reported to USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), where he served as the Assistant Navigator and Navigation / Operations Department Enlisted Advisor until September 2017. He was advanced to Senior Chief in June of 2016. Senior Chief Jones currently serves as the Chief of the Boat aboard USS North Carolina (SSN 777).
In January of 2009, he reported to his first shore duty assignment at Commander Submarine Forces Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia. From 2017 to 2020 he was assigned as the Squadron Assistant Navigator to the Commander of Submarine Squadron Seven in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Senior Chief Jones is entitled to wear the Enlisted Submarine Warfare and Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist pins, the Navy Commendation Medal (Three Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Five Awards), and various campaign, service and unit awards.
