Dwight Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Naval Cruise Book

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Executive Officer Captain Dayton W. Ritt Captain Dayton W. Ritt, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June, 1962. He was designated a Naval Aviator in September, 1963, and reported to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron TWENTY-FIVE at NAS North Island, California. After completing a second Western Pacific deployment aboard USS YORKTOWN (CVS 10), Captain Ritt reported to the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in January, 1967. He completed Naval Test Pilot School and reported to the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Branch of the Weapons Systems Test Division. Captain Ritt was assigned to Project ANEW, which was tasked with the development testing of the P-3C Orion prototype aircraft and the development of the VSX, a replacement for S-2 Tracker aircraft. He participated in the initial S-3A Viking design and specification reviews and in the flight test and weapons systems evaluation that determined the feasibility of conducting complex ASW missions in a turbojet aircraft. These tests were conducted with a three-man crew in a highly modified RA-3B airplane utilizing hybrid P-3C avionics. In January, 1970, Captain Ritt reported to NAS Oceana, Virginia, where he was assigned to Attack Squadron ONE SEVENTY-SIX (VA-176) and subsequently made two deployments to the Mediterranean aboard USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (CVA 42). Captain Ritt was again assigned to the Weapons Test Division of the Naval Air Test Center in November, 1972. As Project Officer for the S-3A weapons system testing, he participated in the Navy Preliminary Evaluations and subsequent Board of Inspection and Survey for the trials of the S-3A Viking airplane. Upon completion of the trials. Captain Ritt reported to the S-3A fleet readiness squadron. Air Anti-Submarine Squadron FORTY-ONE (VS-41), in July, 1974, as an instructor. After a short tour on the staff of Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as coordinator. Captain Ritt reported to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron TWENTY-ONE as Executive Officer in April, 1977. He assumed command of the squadron in July, 1978. After two Western Pacific deployments in USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) and USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63). Captain Ritt was relieved of command in July, 1980. Upon completion of nuclear power training, he reported to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) as Executive Officer in June. 1982. Captain Ritt is married to the former Lemira Ann Guffy of Norwood. North Carolina. J 12 f 4-

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Rear Admiral Ming E. Chang Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO Rear Admiral Ming E. Chang was born in Shanghai, China. He was graduated from the College of William and Mary. Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1955 and received his degree in Physics. Rear Admiral Chang was commissioned in March, 1956, from the Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, and reported immediately to USS LEXINGTON (CVA 16), where he served in the Engineering and Gunnery Department until 1958. In March, 1958, he was assigned as the Assistant Flag Secretary and subsequently served as the Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet. His next assignment was as a student at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, where he received his degree in Electronics Engineering. His subsequent afloat assignments included: Operations Officer, USS RIGEL (AF 58): Weapons Officer, USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS (DDG 5); Weapons Officer, USS BELKNAP (DLG 26): Executive Officer, USS HOLLISTER (DD 788): Commanding Officer, USS RATHBURNE (FF 1057) and USS REEVES (CG 24): and Chief of Staff, Commander Carrier Group THREE. Interspersed with these sea assignments. Rear Admiral Chang served with Naval Ordnance Systems Command as the Naval Tactical Data System Project Officer, one year in-country Vietnam as the Assistant Senior Naval Advisor in support of the pacification effort in the U-Minch Forest of the Mekong Delta, and as a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; three years on the staff of the Deputy CNO for Surface Warfare where he first served as the Surface to Surface Missile System Coordinator within OPNAV and then served as Head, Surface Anti-Submarinc Warfare Branch, OPNAV. Rear Admiral Chang assumed the position as Chief of Staff, Commander THIRD Fleet on 15 August 1980, and in January 1981, was selected for flag rank. He reported to the Office of CNO in September, 1981, serving as Director, Tactical Air, Surface and Electronic Warfare Development Division {OP-982) until his detachment in January, 1983. Rear Admiral Chang has been awarded the Legion of Merit (with Combat V), Bronze Star (with Combat V), three Air Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, West Germany Meritorious Iron Cross First Class, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, and Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class. Rear Admiral Chang is married to the former Charlotte Yu-Jen Chung of Washington, D.C. They have two children, Daniel, 25. who is a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, and Donalda, 21. who is a U.S. Navy Ensign.

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Command Master Chief ABCM William E. Nichols, Jr. Master Chief Aviation Boatswain Mate, William E. Nichols, Jr., assumed the duties as the Command Master Chief of IKE on 28 June 1982. He was born in Greybull, Wyoming on May 18, 1943. His first enlistment in the Navy commenced January 11, 1961. After completion of Recruit Training in San Diego, California, he reported to USS LEXINGTON (CVA-16) homeported in San Diego, California. Upon completion of her last WESTPAC cruise, the Blue Ghost transitted to the East Coast via Cape Horn in August 1962. He detached from LEXINGTON in December 1962 and reported to USS WASP (CVS-18) in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was advanced Petty Officer Second Class. Completing his required sea duty, he reported to NAAS Kingsville, Texas, in April 1964 and was assigned to the Aircraft Crash and Rescue Crew. Missing the fast pace of sea duty, he terminated his shore duty in October 1965 and reported to USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) in San Diego, California, as a Petty Officer First Class. After completing three combat tours to Viet Nam as a member of the flight deck crew, he reported to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. For the next two years he served as the Assistant Crash Chief at OLF Bronson on the Perdido Bay. Upon completion of a tour of shore duty, his next assignment took him back to San Diego and USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14) in September 1970 as the acting Flight Deck Chief. Shortly after assuming his duties he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer. In the spring of 1973, word was received that the TICO would be decommissioned and he received orders as an Aircraft Fire Fighting Instructor at the Fleet Training Center, San Diego, California. One year later he was selected for duty on the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk, Virginia. His duties there included training and technical assistance to all Atlantic Fleet aircraft carriers in aircraft firefighting and aircraft handling procedures. He was also advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer during this tour. He was selected to attend the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, at the completion of this normal tour of shore duty and was ordered to IKE as the Command Master Chief upon its competition. He is an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and his awards include the Presidential Unit Citation, two Navy Unit Commendations, five Good Conduct Awards, the National Defense Medal, nine Viet Nam Service awards, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Ribbon, the Republic of Viet Nam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross, and the Expert Pistol Shot Medal. Master Chief Nichols is married to the former Martha J. Anderson for Brunswick, Georgia. He resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, with his wife and Yorkshire Terrier, Sassy.