Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER CAPT J. A. BYERS Captain John A. Byers, a native of Bellvue, Pennsylvania, graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1962, and received his commission through the NROTC Regular Program. Captain Byers attended a six month CIC ASAC School at Glynco, Georgia, before reporting to USS INGRAHAM (DD 694), where he served as CIC Officer until August of 1964. He then attended Destroyer School in Newport, R.I., and upon graduation in February of 1965, served as Operations Officer of USS K. D. BAILEY (DDR 713). After a course of instruction at Computer Programming School in Washington, DC, he served as a computer programmer and ADP Plans Officer for the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, in Hawaii for three years. In July of 1970, he moved back, to the East Coast to serve on the pre-commissioning crew as the first Communications Officer of the USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20). Captain Byers returned to Washington DC in November of 1972 and served as ADP Plans Officer for the Defense Communications Agency until reporting to the USS NEWPORT (LST 1179) to the NATO Staff of Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe, as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications. He served as Commanding Officer, USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192) from March 1981 to January 1983. He attended the first Post Command Course at the Naval War College in the Spring of 1983 and reported for duty to OPNAV as the Head of Communications Plans, Policy, Resources and Readiness Branch. In April 1985, he received orders to report as Commanding Officer, USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7). Captain Byers ' decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. He holds a Master ' s Degree in Government Administration from George Washington University and is a proven Sub-specialist in Communications.