Fitzgerald (DDG 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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FITZGERALD WINS BATTLE E, AGAIN!! Once again. Fizgerald was chosen as the ' Best of the Best for Destroyer Squadron 23 in winning the Battle Efficiency award for 1998. In addition. FITZGERALD won its 3rd consecutive awards in Maritime Warfare. Command and Control, and Enaineerina. J 16

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Combat Systems Officer Lieutenant Commander Michael C. Sparks United States Na LCDR Sparks was commissioned in 1988 at The Citadel in Charleston. South Carolina via the XROTC Program aftereaming a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Political Science. His career as a Surface ' arfare Officer includes service in a variety of combatants. His assignments at sea include; USSCH.ARLEST0X(LK.A-1 1?) as Ordnance Officer. Operations Officer, and Navigator: USS DE YO ( DD- 989 ) as Fire Control Officer; and USS FITZGER.ALD ( DDG-62 ) as former Weapons Officer. LCDR Sparks is serving as Combat Systems Officer. USS FITZGER. LD ( DDG-62 ). LCDR Sparks shore assignment v as as Engineering. N ' a igation, and Na al Operations instructor. XROTC Unit The Citadel. Charleston. South Carolina. While on shore duty LCDR Sparks earned his Master of the Arts degree in management from Webster Uni ersit . His decorations include the Navy Commendation .Medal (Tljird award). Navy Achievement Medal (Second award), National Defense Medal. .-Armed forces Expeditionan. Medal. Southwest .Asia Ser ice Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w iih tw o stars. LCDR Sparks is married to the former Jenny Freeman of Florence, South Carolina. Thev have two children. Cameron and Freeman. 18