McFaul (DDG 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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44 Only a seaman realizes to what great extent an entire ship reflects the personality and ability of one indi- vidual, her commanding officer. To a landsman this is not understandable and at times it is even difficult for us to comprehend, but it is so! A ship at sea is a distant world in herself, and in con- sideration of the great protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power, responsi- bility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command. In each ship there is one man, who, in the hour of emer- gency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one alone who is ultimately responsible for the safe navi- gation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire, and mo- rale of his ship. He IS the Commanding Officer. He is the ship. This IS the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instant during his tour as com- manding officer that he can escape the grasp of command and responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligation are ludicrously small; nevertheless, command is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders. It is duty which most richly deserves the highest, time- honored title of the seafaring world... CAPTAIN. - Joseph Conrad 26

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Commanding Officer Commander Bernard L. Jackson, USN Commander Jackson, a native of Ma- con, Georgia received his commission in December 1978 through the NROTC program at Savannah State College. There he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Commander Jackson ' s first tour of duty was as Gunnery Officer and Damage Control Assistant on board USS EL PASO (LKA-117). Durmg his tour, EL PASO completed an extensive over- haul and conducted a major deployment to the Indian Ocean. In August of 1982, Commander Jack- son was assigned to the Naval ROTC Unit, Savannah State College, where in addition to performing duties as Recruitmg Officer Sophomore Instructor he obtained a Bach- elor of Science in Mathematics. In November 1985, Commander Jack- son was assigned to USS CONNOLE (FF- 1056) as Engineering Officer until Octo- ber 1987. Durmg his tour, CONNOLE was awarded the Battle E . In October 1987, Commander Jack- son was assigned to USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS (CG-27) as Engineering Officer until October 1989. During his tour, JOSEPHUS DANIELS won the Battle E and was the recipient of the Arleigh Burke award as the most improved surface com- batant. Commander Jackson served on the staff of COMCRUDESGRU EIGHT from October 1989 until November 1991. Dur- ing his tour, CCDG-8 participated in sev- eral complex operations, including Opera- tionS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM while embarked in USS SARATOGA (CV-60). Commander Jackson served as Execu- tive Officer in USS TICONDEROGA (CG- 47) from March 1992 until October 1993. During his tour, TICONDEROGA participated in several fleet exercises and completed the first AEGIS overhaul. In November 1993, he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Is- land where he earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Subsequently, in January 1995, Com- mander Jackson assumed duties as an ac- tion officer within the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5), the Jomt Staff, Washington, D.C. He was responsible for developing strategy and policy on pro- grams related to security assistance. Dur- ing this tour. Commander Jackson was selected to be the commissioning Com- manding Officer of USS McFAUL (DDG- 74). Commander Jackson ' s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards). Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal and vanous service medals and unit awards. Commander Jackson is married to the former Cassandra Gale Pryor of Macon, Georgia. They have two children, Nichole and Anthony. 25

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E xecutive Officer LCDR Edward J. Lester, USN Lieutenant Commander Ed- ivard J. Lester, a native of Washington State, is a 1983 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Following commissioning, he attended the Surface Warfare Officer School Division Officer Course in San Diego, California and the Damage Control Assistant Course in Treasure Island, California. Serving aboard USS IMPLICIT (MSO-455) as Chief Engineer and Combat Systems Officer from Decem- ber 1983 though December 1986, he was designated a Sur- face Warfare Officer and an Engineering Officer of the Watch. He next reported to the Na- val Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he completed his Master of Sci- ence in Electrical Enguieering m 1989. Selected for the Sur- face Navy Nuclear Power pro- gram, he then attended Nuclear Power school at Orlando, Florida and completed his nuclear pipeline training at the D 1 G prototype at Ballston Spa, New York. From June 1990 through August 1992, he served as Main Propulsion Assistant in USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69), homeported in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, completing two deploy- ments to the Arabian Gulf Red Sea oparea and participating in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. At the completion of this tour he was designated as a Nuclear Engi- neer. He next reported to Sur- face Warfare Officer School, Newport, Rhode Island as a stu- dent in the Department Head class where he graduated with distinction and received the Admiral Arleigh Burke Award for leadership and pro- fessional achievement. He sub- sequently served as Combat Systems Officer and Chief En- gineer m USS FORD (FFG-54) homeported in Long Beach, California from April 1993 through December 1994. FORD completed a MEF de- ployment to the Arabian Gulf Lieutenant Commander Lester was serving as the Ex- ecutive Officer, Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, New York when he was selected to be the commission- ing Executive Officer of USS McFAUL (DDG-74). Lieutenant Commander Lester to wear the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Com- mendation Medal with two gold stars. Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Battle Ef- ficiency E with two E s, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars. Sea Service Deployment Rib- bon with two bronze stars, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He is married to the former Therese Sifka of Albany, New York and they have two sons, William and Steven. 27