McFaul (DDG 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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Command Master Chief AGCM(SW AW) Andrew P. Jakubowski Master Chief Jakubowski was bom Septem- ber 25, 1955 in Toledo, Ohio, graduated from Whitmer High School m 1973, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1976. His first assignment came in 1 978 aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Mas- ter Chief Jakubowski ' s other sea duty assignments include USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN- 7 1 ), USS AMERICA (CV-66), and on the staff of Commander, Amphibious Group TWO. His shore assignments include Naval Oceanography Com- mand Detachments in Barbers Point, Hawaii, Di- ego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Whit- ing Field, Florida, and Patuxent River, Maryland. He was advanced to Master Chief Petty Of- ficer in May 1 995, and selected for the Command Master Chief program. After graduating from the Senior Enlisted Academy, Rhode Island, he re- ported as USS McFAUL ' s first Command Mas- ter Chief in May 1996. Master Chief Jakubowski is designated both an Enlisted Surface Warfare and Aviation War- fare Specialist and is authorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards). Navy Achievement Medal ( four awards). Good Conduct Medal (four awards). Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (with bronze star), the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and various service medals and unit awards. He is married to the former Sunhui (Sue) Chang, of Seoul, South Korea. They have two sons, Steven and Raymond. 28