Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN JAMES B. PERKINS III COMMANDER, DESTROYER SQUADRON NINE Destroyer Squadron NINE was originally formed with eighteen World War I four pipers homeported in Charleston, South Carolina in 1920. After nine subsequent years in Newport, Rhode Island, the squadron was dises- tablished until 1937 when it was reformed for seven years in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. During the two years preceeding the end of World War II and a second retirement, the squadron conducted ASW operations back in the Atlantic out of Recife, Brazil. In January 1946, DESRON NINE was re-established in San Diego, Calif., with ships manned by battle veterans of the Pacific Campaign. During the next 30 years, the squadron was actively involved in wartime operations off the coast of Korea and later Vietnam where DESRON NINE became the first destroyer squadron to be awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. From 1975 to 1983, Destroyer Squadron NINE was the Pacific Fleet Introduction Squadron for SPRUANCE (DD 963) Class Destroyers, OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7) Guided Missile Frigates and PEGASUS (PHM 1) Missile Hydrofoils. Ships of the Squadron made major contributions to the technical and operational evaluations of such systems as AEGIS, TOMAHAWK, HARPOON, NATO SEA SPARROW and OUTBOARD. The Secretary of the Navy awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Staff, Commander Destroyer Squadron NINE for the period 1 July 1976 to 31 May 1978 for these efforts. Homeported in Long Beach, Calif., the En Garde squadron currently includes USS BERKELEY (DDG 15), USS MARVIN SHIELDS (FF 1066), USS ROARK (FF 1053), USS GRAY (FFG 51), USS PAUL F. FOS- TER (DD 964) and USS BRADLEY (FF 1041). All but USS ROARK are assigned to Battle Group CHARLIE. Captain Perkins is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Blenn Perkins Jr., and was raised in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1964 and first served in USS SARATOGA (CVA 60) as a Deck Division Watch Officer during two Mediterranean deployments. Following a brief tour in USS CHARLES H. ROAN (DD 853), he attended Destroyer School and subsequently reported as Weapons Officer in USS HENDERSON (DD 785) in November 1967. Upon return from a Western Pacific deployment in response to the TET offensive of 1968, then Lieutenant Perkins reported as Executive Officer, USS JOHN WILLIS (DE 1027) wherein he served until being ordered to the Naval Postgraduate School in March 1972. After graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Acoustics, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College. He then served as Executive Officer in USS DOWNES (FF 1070) from September 1975 to January 1977 during the test and evaluation of the Harpoon, NATO Sea Sparrow and TAS MK-23 combat systems in that frigate. His next assignment was as Aide and Flag Secretary to Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE until March 1979. Following that tour. Commander Perkins served in the ASW Section on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare). Captain Perkins commanded USS SCHOFIELD (FFG 3) from 11 January 1983 to 3 July 1985. During his tenure, USS SCHOFIELD completed a successful deployment to the Persian Gulf, for which he was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and won the CINCPACFLT Gold Anchor Award and Destroyer Squadron THIRTEEN Battle Efficiency E . Captain Perkins graduated with distinction from the Naval War College in June 1986 and assumed command of Destroyer Squadron NINE on 29 July 1986. He is authorized to wear the following personal decorations and unit awards: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Gold Star in lieu of Second Award, Meritorious Unit Com- mendation (second award) and the Battle Efficiency E (second award). Captain Perkins is married to the former Connie Deam Patten of Neptune Beach, Florida, and has two children; Susan and Jimmy. J fS m

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CAPTAIN RONALD J. ZLATOPER COMMANDER, CARRIER AIR WING FIFTEEN Carrier Air Wing KIK ' I ' KKN is comprised of nine squadrons llyinK seven lypesolaircraa. Commissioned in 194:iat Norfolk, Va.,( ' VW- 1, i is currently hased at NAS Miramar, t alif., and is the first to deploy under the new en- CARRIER AIR WII IG-15 erations in April I98. ' i. Led l)y its Air Wing Commander, ( apt. Ronald .1. Zlatoper, the Air Wing is now a designated major c(mimand at .sea and has amassed more than 1 8,()()() hours and 7,.5()() traps on deployments, while oper- ating HI environments throughout the Western Pacific, ranging from the tropical Indian Ocean to the frigid Bering Sea. The Air Wing Staff is made up of 12 officers, 7 chief petty officers and 10 enli.sted personnel. Deputy Air Wing Commander, Cdr. Lyie C. Bien, or- ganizes and coordinates the many administrative and operational tasks re- quired to keep the Air Wing operating at peak proficiency. The Wing ' s mot- to, Strength, Unity, Bravery, typifies its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of combat readiness. Captain Ronald J. Zlatoper, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, entered the Navy in June 1963 through the NROTC program. Commissioned after grad- uation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1964. Following A-6A replacement pilot training. Captain Zlatoper reported to Attack Squadron SIXTY FIVE in the spring of 1965. During this tour, he flew combat missions over North Vietnam while deployed aboard USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) and USS FORRESTAL (CV-59). Assigned to Attack Squadron FORTY TWO in March 1968, Captain Zlatoper served as a flight instructor and familiarization phase head in the A-6 replacement training squadron at NAS Oceana, Va., while obtaining a Masters Degree from George Washington University. In April 1970, Captain Zlatoper became one of the initial officer cadre to commission Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR, completing two Mediter- ranean deployments aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). He served as the Training Officer, Assistant Maintenance Officer and Opera- tions Officer in the squadron prior to being selected to attend the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in August 1972. After completing the War College curriculum, Captain Zlatoper was pre- sented the William S. Sims Award as the outstanding Command and Staff student. Chosen as a CNO Scholar for 1974, he then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a Master of Science Degree before reporting for duty on the Staff in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Washington, D.C. From July 1975 through November 1977, Captain Zlatoper served in the Aircraft and Weapons Requirements Branch (OP-506) of OPNAV. He re- ported to Attack Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE in May 1978 as Executive Offi- cer, then Commanding Officer of the Black Falcons, assuming command in June 1979. He made two extended deployments aboard USS FORRES- TAL (CV-59). Captain Zlatoper then served on the Secretary of the Navy ' s staff as the Executive Assistant to the Director, Office of Program Appraisal, and as Readiness Officer on the staff of the Commander, Tactical Wings Atlantic. In July 1982, he assumed command of Carrier Air Wing ONE with 95 aircraft and nine squadrons onboard USS AMERICA (CV-66). During the next 14 months, he led them on deployments to the Carribean, North Atlantic, Medi- terranean, and Indian Ocean. From August 1983 until May 1985, Captain Zlatoper served as the Mili- tary Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. Captain Zlatoper ' s decorations include the Defense Distinguished Ser- vice Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V . He has over 4,000 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings in Navy jet aircraft; is a designated subspecialist in financial management; has published articles on naval strategy, military logistics and management; and is listed in the 1973 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America. Captain Zlatoper resides in San Diego, Calif., with his wife the former Barry Lane Oliver of Virginia Beach. The Ziatopers have two children, Ash- ley and Michael. COMMANDER LYLE G. BIEN DEPUTY AIR WING COMMANDER