Bowen (FF 1079) - Naval Cruise Book

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LT Rich ritzpatrick. Weapons Offi- cer, right, on the starboard bridge wing shortly after the ship complet- ed an underway replenishment. Concern is evident in the face of Bowen s Supply Officer, LT Bill Dodson, far upper right, as he re- views a computer printout of the ships finances. LT Guy Zanti, Operations Officer, above, resolves a conflict in the ships schedule during a telephone discussion with Bowens operation al commander. Right, LT Joe Zavodny, Engineer- ing Officer, signs an equipment ta- gout sheet in the ships wardroom. The Engineering Officer is respon- sible for all aspects of the ship ' s propulsion plant. 52 Crew members

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I Al The Commanding Officer of a U.S. navy warship always makes the TougH decisfons ommander Richard ■ Alan Robbins took com- .Z mand of USS BOWEH during a ceremony on the ships flight deck on May 29, 1987, Just 1 8 days before the Mediterra- nean cruise began. Me described the deployment as a rewarding experience. It was great, because BOW- EM did what she was commis- sioned for, he said. We en- joyed outstanding operational successes against real world ' targets. At the same time, BOW- EN sailors were tremendous ambassadors of our country. CDR Robbins attributed BOW- EM ' S achievements during the cruise to the quality of the crew. They are outstanding — the best I ' ve ever served with, he said. That ' s what makes my job a real pleasure. ' CDR Robbins began his Fiaval career at the U.S. naval Acad- emy in 1965. At that time in his hometown of Hot Springs, Ar- kansas, there was no higher honor for a young man than win- ning an appointment to Anna- polis or West Point. Me graduated on June 4, 1969 with a Bachelor of Science de- gree in history. 1 leamed the fundamental traits of leadership there, he said of his four year naval Acad- emy education. LCDR Allen and CDR bobbins review the daily incoming message traffic in the Captains cabin. The Commanding Officer and Executive Officer work closely together on a daily basis, dealing with administrative and operation- al issues effecting the ship and crew. Following his graduation, CDR Robbins served aboard USS RICH (DD-820), and was the commissioning Anti-Sub- marine Warfare Officer of USS ALYWin (rr-1081). In February, 1975 CDR Robbins received a Master of Science degree in Operations Research at the naval Postgrad- uate School in Monterey, Cali- fornia. After graduating from the Sur- face Warfare Department Head School in newport, Rhode Is- land, CDR Robbins reported aboard USS BUCHANAn (DDG- 14) as Weapons Officer. He then joined the Chief of naval Opera- tions staff. In 1981, CDR Robbins re- turned to sea as Executive Offi- cer of USS ELIOT (DD-967). He remained at sea for his next tour as Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron Twenty One. After returning to the Chief of naval Operations Staff, he re- ceived orders to report to BOW- EN as Commanding Officer. it ' s a very exhilarating expe- rience, CDR Robbins said in describing commanding a ship. At the same time, not a minute goes by when you don ' t feel the responsibility for everything that goes on. You ' re the one that has to make the tough deci- sions, day or night. It ' s got to go downhill from here, he added, because I ' m in the best Job in the navy, so everything else will be anti-cli- mactic. It will never get any better, he said. During the Antalya, Turkey port vis- it, Bowen hosted a flight deck re- ception for local military and civil- ian officials. Above are CDR Robbins and the local Piaval atta- che for the Anatolian region. Crew members 5 X

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epartment head job tough, rewarding Despite the significant differ- ences in their responsibili- ties, BOWEM ' S four depart- ment heads all described both their jobs and the deployment as tough, but rewarding. And, as a review of their back- grounds reveals, each of the ship ' s four department heads — Opera- tions, Weapons, Supply and Engi- neering — are uniquely qualified to carry out those responsibilities. Unlike most surface warfare officers, LT Joseph E. Zavodny, En- gineering Officer, served as an ex- ecutive officer, aboard the mine- sweeper IMPERVIOUS (MSO-44), before he served as a department head. He said that being BOWEN ' S Chief Engineer and Senior Watch Officer is a real good time. It is probably the highlight of my ca- reer to date. Despite some casualties that we handled in a professional man- ner, he said that the ship and crew performed well during the deployment. LT Zavodny was commis- sioned through the Piaval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Notre Dame in 1978. Me holds a masters degree from the naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. After commissioning, LT Zav- odny served as Boilers Officer and Gunnery Officer in USS SELLERS (DDG-11). As Engineering Officer, LT Zav- odny is responsible for the entire propulsion plant. His department, he said, is a great bunch of guys. The best I ' ve worked with. LT Billy K. Dodson, BOWEN ' S Supply Officer, began his Fiaval ca- reer as a surface line officer in WIL- LIAM V. PRATT (DDG-44), serving as Damage Control Assistant and navigation Officer. Me became BOWEM ' S Supply Officer in Febru- ary, 1987 after graduating from Supply School in Athens, Georgia. It ' s kind of fun, he said in describing life as BOWEN ' S Supply Officer. I ' ve got some great peo- ple. They keep me out of trouble. In addition to the ship ' s entire supply system, LT Dodson is also responsible for the ship ' s store, barber shop, disbursing office, mess decks and wardroom. He said that the deployment was a lot of work and a good time on the beach when you get there. LT Dodson graduated from Southeastern Missouri University in 1979 with a degree in English and History. He then attended Offi- cer Candidate School in newport, Rhode Island. LT Guy W. Zanti graduated from the United States naval Acad- emy in 1982 with a degree in En- glish. He was heavily recruited by the naval Academy wrestling coach because, as a Maryland high school wrestler, he never lost a match. After commissioning, LT Zanti spent 6 months with the navy wrestling team, winning the 1983 Greco-Roman championship and receiving awards in the All-navy and Armed Forces competition. LT Zanti ' s first shipboard tour was in USS BOONE (rFG-28), where he was Anti-Submarine War- fare Officer, Communications Offi- cer and CIC Officer. He described the members of BOWEnS Operations Department as dedicated professionals who insist on early liberty. He said the ship ' s 1987 de- ployment was the best thing I ' ve done in the navy because the ship was actively involved in sur- face warfare. LT Richard D. Fitzpatrick, Weapons Officer, oversees the work of First Division, Second Divi- sion and AS Division. In addition to the ship ' s weapons systems, in- cluding ASROC and Harpoon mis- siles, 5 ' 54 gun mount, CIWS, MK 46 torpedos, and hull mounted and towed array sonars, LT Fitzpa- trick is responsible for the ship ' s towing and anchoring gear and the painting and preservation of al- most all topside spaces. A 1979 graduate of the United States naval Academy, he holds a masters degree in physics from the naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. Following commissioning, he served as Communications Officer and Anti- Submarine Warfare Officer in USS PETERSOn (DD-969). As Tactical Action Officer dur- ing the deployment, LT Fitzpatrick directed the ship ' s hunt for Soviet submarines while on watch in the Combat Information Center. He recalled good team work, fun coordinating with air assets and working independently, lots of tracking while the ship was searching for submarines during the cruise. Crew members 53