Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - Naval Cruise Book

CAPTAIN RICHARD L. MARTIN, u.s. navy COMMANDING OFFICER, USS CARL VINSON USS CARL VINSON Captain Martin was born in Utica, Ohio. He graduated in 1955 from Granville High School, Granville, Ohio, followed by graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1959. In December 1961 Captain Martin reported to Fighter Squadron 191 at Naval Air Station, Miramar, California, after completing flight training and F-8 " Crusader " training. Operating from USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31) in the Western Pacific, he served as Line Officer, Maintenance Control Officer and Maintenance Officer. Following his initial four-year tour as a fighter pilot. Captain Martin completed the first year of a PhD pro- gram in physics during 1966 at the U.S. Naval Postgradu- ate School in Monterey, California, and also completed NASA astronaut screening. He next served as an in structor with Fighter Squadron 124 while simultaneous- ly working on a PhD in Mathematics at the University of California at San Diego. Captain Martin reported to Fighter Squadron 162 at Naval Air Station, Miramar, California, in December 1969 and from there deployed with the squadron to Southeast Asia aboard USS SHANGRI-LA (CV 38). Dur- ing this time he served consecutively as squadron Oper- ations Officer and Executive Officer. Captain Martin was reassigned in March 1971 to serve as head of the Logistics and Training Systems Design portion of the F-14 " Tomcat " Fleet Introduction Cadre at Naval Air Station, Miramar. He became the first Com- manding Officer of Fighter Squadron 2 when Fighter Squadron 1 and Fighter Squadron 2 were established as the first two operational F-14 squadrons on 14 October 1972. During the latter months the squadron operated with Carrier Air Wing 14 on board USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). Captain Martin next joined the staff of Fighter Air- borne Early Warning Wing, Pacific at Naval Air Station, Miramar as F-14 Special Projects Officer while awaiting command of Fighter Squadron 124, the F-14 Readiness Training Squadron. He was reassigned to Nuclear Power Training in October 1974 and was attached to Naval Re- actor Headquarters from January to April 1976. From April 1976 until May 1978 he served as Executive Officer of USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), homeported in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, during the ship ' s first two operational deploy- ments. Captain Martin commanded USS FRANCIS MARION (LPA 249) from 9 September 1978 to 30 September 1979 followed by work at Naval Reactor Headquarters, Wash- ington, DC. He began his assignment as Prospective Commanding Officer of USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) on 10 March 1980 following completion of A4W Reactor Plant Design School at Bettis Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Captain Martin has made three combat cruises to Southeast Asia and flown every operational model of the F-8 " Crusader " He was the twenty-eighth pilot to exceed 2,000 hours in the F-8, while making 550 carrier landings flying that type aircraft. Additionally, he was one of the first pilots to fly an F-14 " Tomcat " aircraft. Captain Martin has earned three awards of the Merito- rious Service Medal, three awards of the Air Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and various campaign and service medals including three Battle E awards, the National Defense Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, four awards of the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and two marksmanship awards. Captain Martin is married to the former Anne Craw- ford and resides in Norfolk, Virginia. They have one son. Lance. 29