Ashland (LSD 48) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR Kurt Kastner, Executive Officer Dear ShipiViates, mir A ow xTiti tolafeCSiis oppt)rttinitv ta thank ypu an4 tr ' to ]|iTf iftS words how proud I m off each of- ' ymi and whxit: we as VTeany ASHLAX ' Dr havt ' accomplished. seen to V Wheii I reporte 4 ==lM9 ' 1 t ar ago, ' V ASHLAND uSW SdSor a sec[3nd C majoil i uiustriajUpeBod-nirht hip bad ■ ■ ' i somelroiigji Hmes,-aiTd,-w stru liAg ; pass the j Tp y inspections and ,-N.y . ■ assessm Mhat folloiSJil an ar dj oas y rd t ' j period, leiaJohe get uiiderwa ' dr -ooperafe. Oh, what cT.ic1ifference Vdur Efforts have niade! Without trte,,benefr;i:ofjirty wopknap ry O Q .. M l

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Commander Samuel Howard Commanding Officer .11 -p Samuel CharleS ' Henry Howard Commander, United States Navy W!w. Commanding Officer United States Ship ASHLAND (LSD 48) Commander Howard was bom in Fort Dix, New Jersey and grew up in Mount Holly. After graduating from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1980, he matriculated into The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina as an NROTC Scholarship student. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and was commissioned an ensign in 1984. After pipeline training and other afloat temporar} ' assignments, Commander Howard reported to USS OtBANNON (DO 987) to serve as Communications Officer then Electrical Officer. In December 1987, he reported to Naval Education and Training Center in Newport as Assistant Plans and Operations Officer and Port Services Officer. Commander Howard graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in June 1991 with a Master of Science in Management (Manpower Systems Analysis subspecialty). Following a short assignment to Navy Recruiting Distiict, Philadelphia PA (Senior Minority Assistance to Recruiting program), he attended Surface Warfare Officer Department Head School iii Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation in 1992, Commander Howard reported to USS CONOLLY (DD 979) as Engineer Officer on station in the North Red Sea. In 1993, Commander Howard was ordered to the staff of Commander, Destioyer Squadron TWENTY SIX as Operations Officer and deployed with the staff as part of GEORGE WASHINGTON BATTLE GROUP. Commander Howard was then ordered to the staff of Commander, United States SECOND FLEET serving as Future Operations Officer, then Assistant Fleet Operations Officer until February 1997. In October 1997 following pipeline h-aining and temporary dut} ' which included serving as Junior Officer of the Deck aboard USS CONSTITUTION when she sailed for the ; first time in 1 1 6 years, Conxmander Howard reported as Commanding Officer Precommissioning Unit RAVEN, , ■ and later commissioned USS RAVEN (MHC 61), the eleventh OSPREY Class coastal mine hunter. Upon scheduled relief in August 1999, Commander Howard reported to the Command Depaitnient staff of Surface Warfare Officers School Command in Newport, Rhode Island, serving as senior Mine V |ki;fare instructor and Mariner Skills lead. ' l ' Commander Howard took command of USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) in Februarv 2002, depkn-ing to the Arabian Gulf in January 2003 with elements of SECOND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE embarked in suppori of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. , . - - , Commander Howard has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal , the Defuse M€ itorious Service Medal (two awards) the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and is authorized to • wear numerous campaign and unit awards. He is mairied to Lari Ann Roberts of Haihesport, New J sey. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia with their toddler son, Mercer, and dog, LaBelle. . ;,

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USS ASHLAND Officers