Dwight Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain George D. O ' Brien, Jr. U.S. Navy Executive Officer Captain George D. O ' Brien entered the Naval Academy in July 1956 and was commissioned in June 1960. He reported immediately to flight train- ing, and received his wings in November 1961. After completion of training in the P-2 aircraft, he reported to Patrol Squa- dron SIXTEEN in Jacksonville, Flor- ida. During this tour he completed deployments to Iceland, Bermuda and Cape Town, South Africa, and qualified as Patrol Plane Commander in the P-2 and P-3A aircraft. In December 1965 Captain O ' Brien reported to the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, where in June 1970, he received a PHD in Aeronautical Engineering. He is a member of SIGMA XI. After graduation he reported to Training Squadron TWENTY THREE for jet transition training, followed by replacement training in the A-6 aircraft in Attack Squadron FORTY TWO. In August 1971 he reported to Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR where he served as Operations Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer, com- pleting two Mediterranean deploy- ments on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67). In December 1973 Captain O ' Brien was assigned to Air Test and Evalua- tion Squadron FIVE (VX-5), as A-6 Projects coordinator and Project Officer for RABVAL, a joint Navy Air Force evaluation involving the F-111E and A-6E aircraft. In September 1974 he reported for duty as Readiness Officer for Commander Medium At- tack Wing ONE. In December 1975 Captain O ' Brien was assigned as Executive Officer, and later as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron THIRTY FIVE, em- barked on USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). In July 1978 he reported to the Naval Air Systems Command as Deputy Pro- gram Manager for the A-6 Aircraft. Captain O ' Brien reported to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in September 1980 after completion of Nuclear Power Training. He resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife Elise and their children George, Caroline, Kevin and Roseleen.

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Captain Eugene D. Conner U.S. Navy Executive Officer Captain Eugene D. Conner, a 1957 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, earned his aviator wings in March 1959 l efore serving with squadrons VF-174 and VF-103 from 1959 to 1963. After attending U.S. Navy Post- graduate School in 1966, he went to VF-121 for F-4 Phantom 11 transition training before serving with VF-213. From 1968 to 1970, Capt. Conner served as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy before serving as aircraft handling officer aboard USS HANCOCK (CVA 19). Other tours of duty included Executive Officer of VF-121, VF-151 and Commanding Officer of VF-151 during the Vietnam conflict. Capt. Conner received additional training at the U.S. Naval War College, the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School and the Division of Naval Reactors before reporting as Executive Officer of IKE in September 1978. Capt. Conner is currently assigned as Commanding Officer, USS SAVAN- NAH (AOR-4). Capt. Conner is married to the former Joan Stewart of Waltham, Mass., and they reside in Virginia Beach with their three children, Mark, Michele and Karen.

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Commander William R. Needham U.S. Navy Commander Carrier Air Wing Seven Commander William R. Needham graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1961 and after receiving his wings in October 1962 and completing Maintenance Officer School, he report- ed to VA-44 and later to VA-106 where he flew the A4-D and A4-C. In August 1966, Commander Needham reported to the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, CA., where he gained experience in a variety of aircraft, including the T-38, B-57, F-104, OV-10, C-1A and A-4. In August 1968, Commander Needham was assigned to VA-42 for transition training in the A-6 Intruder. He then became a member of VA-85 and saw combat action in Vietnam. In June 1971, Commander Needham reported to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Upon receiving his Masters Degree in Financial Man- agement, he reported to Washington, D.C., working under the Chief of Naval Personnel as head of Enlisted Strength and Advancement Section. In January 1975 Commander Needham reported for duty as the Operations Officer for Carrier Air Wing ONE em- barked aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67). He became Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of VA-65 embarked aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) from Sep- tember 1976 to March 1979, before assuming command of Carrier Air Wing SEVEN in December 1979. Commander Needham ' s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, Navy Commandation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Battle Efficiency Award, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service Medal and Campaign Stars and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. Commander Needham is married to the former Karia Greer of Santa Fe, NM. They reside in Virginia Beach, VA. with their two children, Mark, and Meg.