Command Leadership History
CDR Garth Storz
Commanding Officer
USS Colorado (SSN 788)
Commander Garth Storz was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to LtCol William and Linda Storz. He enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and selected for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program shortly after. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Nuclear Engineering and was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in 2002.
He served as a Division Officer on USS MEMPHIS, Navigator on USS NEW HAMPSHIRE, and Executive Officer on USS DALLAS. CDR Storz has deployed on all of his sea duties respectively to the NORLANT/NORPAC, EUCOM, and CENTCOM AORs.
His shore assignments included Operations Officer for Submarine Squadron FOUR and Systems Development Department Head at Undersea Warfighting Development Center’s Tactical Analysis Group. He is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Commendation Medal (6 Awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
LCDR Jeremy W. Wheelis
Executive Officer
USS Colorado (SSN 788)
LCDR Jeremy Wheelis a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico commissioned into the Navy through the Naval Reserves Officer Training program from The University of New Mexico in December, 2006 where he obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering. After commissioning, he was assigned to USS Springfield (SSN-761) in May, 2008 following the completion of Nuclear Power training and Submarine Officer Basic Couse.
In July 2011, he transferred to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, SC where he served as a Shift Engineer and oversaw the safe operation, maintenance, and training of a nuclear power plant. Following completion of Shift Engineer duty in South Carolina he opted to accept the third year sabbatical in order to obtain a MS in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.
In May 2014, he reported to the USS Henry M. Jackson (GOLD) (SSBN-730) in Bangor, WA as the Engineer Officer. While on the Jackson he completed four Strategic Deterrent patrols, two dry docking refits and one Extended Refit Period (ERP). While on the Jackson he was ranked in the top 1/3 of all Engineers on the water front, was selected for XO and promoted to LCDR.
He reported in May 2018 to Commander Submarine Group SEVEN (COMSUBGRU 7) as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Material and Logistics-N4 (GRENG) to support the leading tip of the spear in forward deployed submarine operations. Following his tour at COMSUBGRU 7 he completed Submarine Command Course out of Groton Connecticut and reported aboard USS COLORADO (SSN 788) as Executive Officer.
His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (3 Awards), Navy Achievement Medal (4 awards) and various service and campaign awards.
ETRCM(SS) Larry E. “Chip” Alger
Chief of the Boat
USS Colorado (SSN 788)
Chief Alger was born in Harrisonburg, VA and entered the Navy in February of 1995. Upon completion of recruit training at Great Lakes, IL and Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) in Groton, CT, he attended Radioman “A” school.
His first operational command was onboard USS HELENA (SSN-725) in Pearl Harbor, HI where he completed his Submarine Warfare qualification, two WESTPAC deployments, and one EASTPAC Deployment. After two changes of homeports to Portsmouth, NH and San Diego, CA, he attended Electronics Technician “C” schools in Groton, CT, and transferred in March 2000 to Naval Submarine Support Facility in Groton, CT. In September, 2003, he reported to USS SAN JUAN (SSN-751), completing two CENTCOM deployments while serving as the Communications Division LPO and in 2006 was selected to Chief Petty Officer.
In 2008, he reported to USS SPRINGFIELD (SSN-761) as the Navigation/Operations Department Enlisted Advisor (NODEA), qualifying DOOW and completing one CENTCOM deployment and Selective Refit Availability (SRA). In 2011, he reported to Submarine Surveillance Equipment Program Atlantic (SSEP LANT) and served as the Electronic Equipment Groom LCPO. He then reported to USS PROVIDENCE (SSN-719) as the NODEA in February, 2014, where he was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and completed one CENTCOM/EUCOM deployment and Pre-Inactivation Refit Availability (PIRA). During his tour, he completed a EUCOM deployment onboard USS NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN-778), where he qualified PILOT.
In 2017, he reported to Commander, Submarine Squadron Four (CSS-4) to serve on staff as the Communications Assistant, where he completed his Chief of the Boat qualifications and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy Senior Enlisted Leadership Course with Honors. After being advanced to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, he completed the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat Capstone Course in Newport, RI en route to relieving in October, 2018 as Chief of the Boat onboard USS COLORADO (SSN-788).
Master Chief Alger proudly wears the Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (eight awards), and numerous unit and campaign awards. He resides in Plainfield, CT with his wife and two sons.
