John Rodgers (DD 983) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTI E OFFICER COMMANDER JOHN H. HUBBARD COAT OF ARMS The official crest of USS JOHN RODGERS symbolizes the service of three members of a prominent Navy family. The anchor represents the service of Commodore John Rodgers, who acted as president of the Board of Naval Commissioners following the War of 1812 until 1837. His son, Rear Admiral John Rodgers, led exploring expeditions in Chinese Waters and through the Bering Strait in 1855, the compass rose is symbolic of his service. Commander John Rodgers, great-grandson of Commodore Rodgers, was a pioneer of Naval Aviation and his service is alluded to by the wings. The sea eagle, a sharp-eyed marine bird-of-prey, repre- sents the ship's primary mission of detection and tracking of submarines, with the addition of incredibly deadly striking ability. The three arrowheads refer to the multi- mission capabilities of JOHN RODGERS. A native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Lieutenant Commander HUBBARD is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, with a degree in Naval Architecture. He was commissioned on June 9, 1971 and is a December 1977 graduate of SWOS Department Head School. At sea Lieutenant Commander HUBBARD served as First Division Officer and Damage Control Assistant on the USS PYRO CAE 245, commissioning Electrical Officer aboard USS TARAWA CLHA 15, Chief Engineer of the USS BOWEN CFF 10795 and Material Officer, Commander, Surface Squadron ONE. Ashore he served as Officer Procedural Control at Naval Military Personnel Com- mand QNMPC5 prior to reporting as Executive Officer, USS JOHN RODGERS January 4, 1984. In addition to various unit awards, campaign ribbons and medals, Lieutenant Commander HUBBARD is au- thorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. l A l ' iisi f .g 5Q Jf. J Hi Q 4 1 . A A J Z: - f 'Y . ,.g, Cj it 5 84, ,fast 1 5. 5 ,O . Y 4 ',' A '.' ss -- 49 W ' 00, , 11 ' . 7

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COM DI G OFFICER COMMANDER STEPHEN G. KMETZ REWARDIN G HARD WORK, THE CO PRE- SENTS A CERTIFICATE TO MSSN TREZZA AT A MONTHLY AWARDS CEREMONY. 6 A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Commander Stephen Kmetz is a 1965 graduate of the University of Minnesota where he received his commission through the NROTC program. Commander Kmetz served as First Lieutenant in USS LASALLE CLPD-35, Weapons Officer in USS DEALEY CDE-10065, Executive Officer in USS BENEWAH CAPD-355, and as Commanding Officer of USS CANON Cpg-905. He participated in extensive operations with the rivers and contiguous Waters of Vietnam and Cambodia while serving in USS BENEWAH and USS CANON from 1969 to 1972. After a brief assignment as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Coastal Squadron THREE, Commander Kmetz served on the Destroyer Development Group Staff and as Flag Secretary to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO. After graduation from the Naval War College in 1977, he served as Executive Officer, USS KOELSCH CFF-10495 where he participated in ASW Squadron opera- tions. Following this assignment, Commander Kmetz served as Chief Staff Officer for Commander Destroyer Squadron TWENTY and during this tour completed three major overseas deployments. Most recently he served as Executive Officer of Fleet and Mine Warfare Training Center, Charleston, South Carolina. Commander Kmetz assumed command of USS JOHN RODGERS on July 15, 1983. In addition to various unit awards, campaign ribbons and medals, Commander Kmetz is authorized to wear the Bronze Star Cwith combat VDD, Meritorious Service Medal Cwith gold star in lieu of 2nd awardl, Navy Commendation Medal Cwith combat V and gold star in lieu of second awardb, and the Navy Achievement Medal with combat V. Commander Kmetz is married to the formerjanet Maher of Camarillo, California. They have three sons, Michael 9, Stephen 7, and James 6. Sli? 'L COMMANDER KMETZ TAKES THE PODIUM AT THE JOHN RODGERS coMPLET1oN OF OVERHAUL CEREMONY, MARCH 1985 IN PASCAGOULA.

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THEKH KI LT GREG CRUZE WASHINGTON, DC LT CRUZE joined the USS JOHN RODGERS during the yard period and became the inaugural Combat Systems Officer . Fresh from a tour in Washington, DC Lt. CRUZE had the unenviable task of setting up the John Rodgers Combat Systems style of operations. The Combat Systems department includes all the personnel needed to fight the ship and maintain the equipment used to fight with. Divisions, under Lt. CRUZE include CF, CE, CG and CA. Division Officers aiding Lt. CRUZE are Lt. MCDONNEL CCAD, Lt. PARR!Ltjg. SWEENEY CCFD, Ltjg. CHAPMAN! Ens. LOCKE CCGJ and WO2 OLDFIELD CCEJ. During the yards Lt. CRUZE was also responsible for the habitability team, whose members were charged with refurbishing the berthing spaces on JOHN RODGERS. LT HENRY EGAN NEW ORLEANS, LA LT EGAN joined the JOHN RODGERS team during the Mediterranean deployment. A graduate of Tulane Uni- versity, HANK steered the Operations Department through the North Atlantic Cruise and the entire yard period, departing the ship for his new command on the last day of the overhaul. As the OPS Boss, Lt. EGAN had OT, OR, OC, OA and OD divisions working for him. In addition to running the Department, Lt. EGAN was the overhaul co- ordinator ensuring that the ship's crew and the yardworkers Were talking the same language and Working to achieve the same goals. Helping Lt. EGAN run the Department, the organization tasked with everything administrative in the Combat Systems structure, were Lt. HORNER QOTD, Lt. SMITH COAJ, Ltjg. SWEENEY!Ens. HOLMES COCJ, Ltjg. HAYES CORD and Lt. SPEEGLE!Ens. Jennings CODD. 8