Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER - Capt. R. B. McPherson Captain Roger B. McPherson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1957, after which he entered flight training. He received his Naval Aviator designation in October 1958 and reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron TWO in San Diego. He later served as a U.S. Naval Academy engineering instructor, while earning a Master ' s Degree in Personnel Administration from George Washington University. He next reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron ELEVEN in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In 1967, Captain McPherson served with the Seawolves of Helicopter Attack (light) Squadron THREE in the Republic of Vietnam. He was Officer- In-Charge of a detachment in the Mekong Delta, and flew over 200 combat missions. He next reported to the Naval Test Pilot School at Potuxent River, Maryland. Upon graduation, he was appointed head of the ASW and Rotary Wing Branch of the Service Test Division at NATC. One of his major programs. Helicopter Mine Countermeasures RDT and E, led to his next tour as the first Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer of Helicopter Mine Countermea- sures Squadron TWELVE, which conducted the mine-sweeping of Haiphong Harbor in 1973. Captain McPherson ' s next tour was as Air Officer and later Executive Officer of USS INCHON (LPH-12). Then followed a tour of service on the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic and assignment as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron ONE, the East Coast training squadron for the SH-3 Sea King. In 1978 he reported as Executive Officer for the commissioning crew of USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA-3). His most recent duty was on the staff of the Commander , Anti-Submarine Warfare Wing, Pacific. Captain McPherson assumed command of USS CLEVELAND (LPD7) on 22 December 1981. He and his wife Carmen reside in Coronado, California.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER - W. L. Marks A native of Flint, Miclnigan, Commander William L. Marl s graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in February 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following commis- sioning at Officer Candidate School, he attended the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, Connec- ticut, and was subsequently assigned to the USS BARRACUDA (SST-3), homeported in Key West, Florida, in July 1967. In BARRACUDA he served as Weapons and Supply Officer and later as the Engineer Officer. Commander Marks ' next assignment was with Submarine Development Group ONE in San Diego, California, where he was the Assistant Officer- In-Charge of the first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle. In 1972, Commander Marks was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he served as Engineer Officer of USS BARBEL (SS580) until 1974, and Operations Officer and Navigator of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581) until January, 1977. In March of 1977, He assumed the duties as Executive Officer of USS BARBEL (SS-580). Commander Marks then attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and was selected for surface ship command. Following graduation he was assigned a qualification tour as Executive Officer of USS CLEVELAND (LPD7) homeported in San Diego, California. In September 1982, Commander Marks began the en-route training to assume command of USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD-39). Commander Marks is married to the former Pamela Ann Morey of Ames, Iowa. They have two daughters, Kathryn Ann and Diane Marie.