Mount Hood (AE 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander Mark Donald Wessman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 10 Decem- ber 1948. He attended the University of Utah under the Regular NROTC program and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. Following commissioning as an Ensign in 1971, Commander Wessman ' s first assign- ment was to USS VANCOUVER (LPD-2) where he served as Second Division Officer and then as Gunnery Officer. That tour was followed by assignment to USS PRAIRIE (AD-15) where then Lieutenant Wessman served initially as First Lieutenant and then as Weapons Logistics Officer. On completion of the Surface Warfare Officers ' Department Head Course in Newport, Rhode Island, he reported onboard USS ALBERT DAVID (FF- 1050) as the Engineer Officer. He then served as Operations Officer and Engineer Officer of USS PYRO {AE-24). Commander Wessman then received orders to the Naval Post- graduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Naval Subspecialty Code in Weapons System Engineer- ing. Subsequently, he was ordered as Executive Officer of USS CAYUGA (LST-1186) following which he served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander for Amphibious, Auxiliary, Mine and Sealift Ships, Naval Sea Systems Command. From August 1987 until May of 1989 Commander Wessman served as the Training and Readi- ness Officer on the staff of Commander, Combat Logistics Group 1 . Commander Wessman assumed command of USS MOUNT HOOD (AE-29) on 5 December 1989. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star and the Navy Achievement Medal. He and his wife, the former Martha Cauthen of San Diego, California, make their home in Concord, California. They have two children, Andrew and Donald.

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orofT MARK DONALD WESSMAN Commander United States Navy 05 December 1989 - 01 January 1991

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MARK A. FRIESZ Lieutenant Commander United States Navy Executive Officer