YOKOSUKA, Japan – As Houston Navy Week continues back home in Texas, a Katy-native and 2015 James E. Taylor High School graduate is currently serving in the Navy and stationed in Yokosuka, Japan as part of Commander, Submarine Group 7 (CSG 7).

Electronics Technician (Navigation) 2nd Class Christopher Bauer joined the Navy in 2015 after highschool and began his Navy journey with specialized schools at Naval Submarine Base New London. Next, he was assigned to Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761), which changed homeports from Kittery, Maine to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Following his time aboard Springfield, Bauer received orders to Japan, to serve as part of the team at CSG 7, where he reported for duty December 2020.

As an Electronics Technician (Navigation) (ETV), Bauer is responsible for maintaining all electronic equipment used in navigating submarines. His workload could include maintaining, repairing, calibrating, tuning and adjusting navigation equipment, to include radar, gyrocompass, inertial navigation and global positioning systems. ETVs must maintain accurate navigation data, and develop and execute navigation plans for the submarines to use for safe navigation.

“I joined the Navy to see the world and gain leadership experience in challenging environments,” said Bauer. “I enjoy being stationed in Japan and experiencing the culture along with traveling the country and seeing the attractions.”

Bauer credits James E. Taylor coaches and mentors with teaching him the importance of resilience and persistence.

“I had great coaches, mentors and teachers in football and wrestling that I will never forget,” said Bauer.

This perseverance helped Bauer later in his Navy career, as he was able to make vital repairs to Springfield, which helped the submarine complete a shipyard maintenance period. Bauer would later be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal for the work he performed on the crucial piece of machinery.

Bauer is proud of his time in the Navy, his accomplishments, and the people he works with every day.

“Serving in the Navy means unmatchable camaraderie and bonds you make with all different people, of all different backgrounds, with the common goal to serve and protect our fellow shipmates and fellow Americans,” he said.

Submarine Group 7 is responsible for coordinating a diverse fleet of submarines, surface ships and aircraft deployed to the Western Pacific and the Middle East; two forward-deployed submarine tenders and five attack submarines homeported in Guam; Submarine Squadron 21 in Bahrain; five ocean surveillance ships when tasked for theater anti-submarine warfare operations, and two oceanographic survey vessels. Under CSG 7 are two task forces: CTF 74 and CTF 54, which provide theater anti-submarine warfare support from the Red Sea to the International Date Line.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.