Fitzgerald (DDG 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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FITZGERALD year 2000 history The Officers and crew of USS FITZGERALD started the new millennium iCY-2000i with a vision to master every aspect of Surface Naval Operations at Sea. That vision led to record setting achievements throughout the year.A year that included: all phases of the Inter- Deployment Training Cycle CIDTCJ, participation in the largest and most complex naval exercise in the Pacific Fleet CRIMPAC 2000l, inservice Procurement Board iINSURVl material inspection, live torpedo, Harpoon, 5 ! 54 and SM-2 missile firings and culminated with a deployment to the troubled Middle East. All along the way, the Officers and Men of FITZGERALD persistent pursuit of excellence resultedin a spate of successes unprecedented in the ship's four-year history. In every aspect of Surface Warfare, USS FITZGERALD performed with the utmost poise, professionalism and style. Performances during the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle received noteworthy acclaim,The Final Evaluation Problem CFEPJ was completed in a single day with outstanding results. A Missile Firing exercise iFIREX Il and Torpedo Firing Exercise CTORPEXI were immensely successful. Moving on to advanced training, FITZGERALD sailed West for Exercise Rim of the Pacific CRIMPACJ 2000. Through the course of this challenging and highly successful exercise, FITZGERALD: performed duties as Surface Attack Unit CommanderforAnti-Submarine Warfare Exercise O0-2, engaged two high speed targets during a Stream Raid exercise and a low-flying i50ftl SupersonicTarget with spectacular results, provided emergent astern refueling relief for USS SALVOR as it towed two hulks to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, successfully engaged one ofthe hulks during a HARPOONEX, participated in the complex Theater Ballistic Missile Defense iTBMDl exercise, PACIFIC BLITZ,and performed OfHcer in Tactical Command duties during Exercise TEAMWORK NORTH 00.The crew's finely honed skills were manifested again during Mid-East Force Deployment Exercise iMEFEXl Phases I,II and III,which culminated in Texas Thunder,a 2-dayTomahawk exercise in which FITZGERALD performed duties asTSC and LAC simultaneously. FITZGERALD hosted numerous inspections and visits during the year and received superlative marks in the Medical and Dental Readiness Inspections, Explosive Safety Inspection, and COMNAVSAFECE Safety Survey. FITZGERALD'S excellent material condition was validated during a Board oflnspection and Survey CINSURVI visit in August. High marks were attained in cleanliness and preservation,whiIe FITZGERALD'S quality of shipboard life was evaluated as being above fleet average? All other evaluations and assessments remained current through the competitive cycle. In the way of innovation, FITZGERALD introduced many new procedures and Systems designed to improve overall quality of life. FITZGERALD was chosen to receive a Textile ducting system that decreases the amount of ambient noise in ventilation system flow. FITZGERALD greatly enhanced its operational capabilities, as well as crew morale, with the completion ofthe IT-21 Increment Five install. FITZGERALD'S inventive use ofthe Battle Force TeamTrainer KBFTTJ continued to pave the way for the fleet-wide implementation of this important training system. As the show ship on the San Diego waterfront, FITZGERALD continued to represent the Surface Warfare communityin the most positive light. The crew was very active in community service activities, including: a Maui beach clean up project,the Meade Elementary School mentoring program and a vigorous Personnel Exchange Program CPEPI with foreign sailors during RIMPAC 2000.FITZGERALD's Navy and Marine Corps Relief effort was first among all Commander,NavaI Surface Force,U.S.Pacific Fleet destroyers. In USS FITZGERALD, combat readiness and mission accomplishment created a cause and effect attitude that drove the crew to generate exemplary results in every endeavor, but not at all costs. Quality of life was preserved through careful planning and personnel management. The ship sustained a twelve- section duty rotation that provided every Sailor quality time off while retaining ample time for mission planning and execution. Our commitment to Safety, Mission Excellence and Warrior Spirit have manifested itself in a warship ready to execute any tasking, at any time, and in any place. As a result ofthe hard work and dedication of her crew, FITZGERALD was recognized as the most combat ready ship in the entire Pacific FIeet,and was awarded the coveted Spokane Trophyforthe 2000 calandar year. . . ...Aic- 1

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--4--i-qi The Chief of Naval Gperations -takes pleasure in presenting the ' Surface Ship Safety Award tDestroyerJ e to i y Uss F1TzGERALnfDDG 623 'h for excellence in the 'pursuit of A a consistently aggressive safety program and , innovative methods in the critical area, ofmishap prevention - for the period of t ii ' pg A A 1 January to 31 Deceinber2000 y The outstanding seamanship and superiorperfornjance j of the extraordinary crew of Uss FITZGERALD reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest standards of the United States Navy in the areas of safety afloat and' mishap prevention. y V V. E. CLARK Admiral, United States Navy Chief of Naval Operations

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l icer J? s.: in vT f: '5 U 'U 0 L H-T. 4 CommanderAlfred IAI1 Collins was born in Warner Robins, GA. He enlisted inthe Navy in 1972 and advanced through the rank of Operations Specialist Chief Petty Officer. He achieved his education during offduty hours at the University ofSouth Alabama, National University and the University of California, San Diego IUCSD1. While enlisted, his assignments included USS LEXINGTON KCVT 161, USS SAN BERNARDINO lLST1 1891,NavalTraining Center: Orlando, FL and USS PEGASUS IPHM 11. ln August of 1983 Chief Collins was commissioned as an Ensign in theLimited Duty Ofricer program. His fTrst commissioned tour was in USS PEGASUS CPHM 11 as combat system division officer.ln January 1984 he was transferred to USSTRUXTUN KCGN 351 in San Diego, CA. He was assigned duties as Systems Test Officer KSTO1 and Assistant Operations Officer. His first shore assignment came in February 1 987, where he was assigned to the NavyTactical Interoperability Support Activity as Test Director for Navy's Tactical Digital Information Links. After serving in the Limited Duty Officer programfor four years, Lieutenant Collins laterally transferred to the Surface Warfare unrestricted line. He completed the Surface Warfare Officercurriculum in Newport, Rhode 2 Island and was assigned as Operations Officer in USS ENGLAND KCG 221 in San Diego, CA. During ENGLAND's 1990 deployment to the Arabian Gulf, Lieutenant CommanderCollins play a key role in Commander Middle East Force's immediate reaction to lraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2ND. In October 1992, he was transferred to the Bureau of Naval Personnel Washington, D.C. to serve as Branch Head for Enlisted Bonus Programs in the Compensation and Policy Coordination Division. Upon completion of his assignment in Washington, D. C. Lieutenant Commander Collins attended eight-month curricula in tactics, doctrine and marine engineering in preparation for Command at Sea. BB On July 7,1995 Lieutenant Commander Collins tookcommand ofUSS GLADIATOR IMCM 121 while the ship was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea operating with NATO Mine Warfare forces.The change ofcom- mand occurred during a port visit to Lisbon, Portugal. After his deployment to the Med- iterranean and in response to the potential mine threat in the Arabian Gulf,theNavy permanently assigned two Mine Counter- Measure ships to the region. ln Novem ber 1997 Lieutenant Commander Collins and his crew was ordered to the Arabian Gulf to command USS ARDENT CMCM 111. Upon completion of his command tour on USS ARDENT in March 1998, CommanderCollins was transferred to shore duty and aSSlgned to the staff of Commander, Naval Suffafe Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. There he served as the Force Personnel Officer and Program Managerforthe Women-at-Sea Pro9Vam- After serving on the stafffor one year Com- mander Collins was selected to serve SS Executive Assistant lEA1f0tl'le Commalldel' Commander Collins' personal decorations include the Meritorious Servrce Medal wlth gold star, Navy Commendatron Medal wg' three gold Stars. Navy Achievement Me 3- with three gold stars, and Navy Good Con uct Medal with two bronze stars. He has been awarded the Navy Unit Comme-Hdaflonf Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation?NaZ1g Expeditionary Medal, National De en d Service Medal with bronze star,ArmtZr Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze s Za Southwest Asia Service Medal with brortth star, Sea Service Deployment Rrbbolp Vvlcait silverstar, Expert Pistol Rrbbonland U Liberation Medal lKUWAlTl- E ...Half