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Steven Oxholm Will Speak at the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade

Tuesday May 23, 2006

    Vergennes Memorial Day officials looked to one of their own this year to deliver the Memorial day address. United States Navy Commander Steven M. Oxholm will be the speaker at the Memorial Day Services at the Vergennes city Park immediately following the annual Memorial Day Parade.

Commander Oxholm graduated from Vergennes Union High School in 1981. He attended St. louis University graduating with a Bachelor of science degree in Aeronautics in 1985, earned a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1999 and completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase one through the Air Force air command and Staff College in 2000.

After completion of college, Commander Oxholm attended officer Candidate School in New Port, RI., earning a commission in the United States Navy. The next year and a half of his career was dedicated to learning the theory and operations of nuclear propulsion plants and submarine systems. Once this initial training was completed he reported to his first fast attack submarine, USS JACK (SSN 605) where he served as a division officer and Weapons Officer. After the decommissioning of USS JACK, he transferred to USS GURNARD (SSN 662) where he served as Main Propulsion Assistant. His first shore tour was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada serving as staff officer for training at the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre.

Commander Oxholm’s next sea tour was aboard USS Memphis (SSN 691) which completed a refueling overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, N.H. Once the ships trials and inspection were complete, he transferred to a Submarine Squadron and was responsible for the engineer readiness of six assigned submarines.   

His executive officer tour was aboard the ballistic missile submarine USS Florida (ssbn 728) (Gold Crew). during this tour the ship completed four strategic deterrent patrols and earned the Battle Efficiency “E” award as the top submarine in Squadron Seventeen. The chief of Naval Operations specifically cited the ship for the best sailor retention in the entire Navy in 2000’. After transferring, he reported as Deputy commander for Readiness of submarine Squadron Two.

Commander Oxholm currently serves as the Director of the Center for Submarine counterterrorism Operations and Operations Office for submarine Group Two in Groton, Ct.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards) and various  service and campaign awards.

Commander Oxholm lives in Mystic, Connecticut with his wife Karen, their three children, Johanna, Trevor and Jacquelyn.

Commander Oxholm’s mother is Kitty Oxholm, the former Mayor of Vergennes who resides on East Street in Vergennes.

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