Wasp (LHD 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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I . - ,, -..-.,,,.,,., , , V , V 4 Y . ,,,-Qgaiip-1v ,-,.-w,...--,.-W ,.. . .. ,L Colonel Emerson N. Gardner United States Marine Corps Commanding Officer 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Colonel Emerson N. Gardner Jr. has been Commanding Officer of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit CMEUJ since Slay 3l. l99S. He is a l973 cum laude graduate of Duke University and was named an Olmsted Scholar for 1978 and studied history and political science for two years at Goetingen, Germany. Col. Gardner is a graduate of The Basic School, Defense Language Institute, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Armed Force Staff College and the Norwe- gian Defense College. A Naval aviator since 1974, Col. Gardner has served as a helicopter pilot in all three Marine Air Wings. From l9?5fl- l 9555 he was a White House Liasion Officer and Presidential Helicopter Pilot at HMX-l. As Commanding Officer of HMM-261 from 1989-1991, he led the Raging Bulls in Operation Sharp Edge, the evacuation of Liberia. and Operations Desert Shield and Storm. He has logged more than 4.300 flight hours in most of the aircraft currently in the Nlarine Corps inventory. Col. Gardner has served with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade and ll Marine Expeditionary Force as staff officer. He xt as the assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Logistics from 1993-1995 at Allied Forces Northern Europe at Kolsas, Norway and Allied Forces Northwestern Europe, High Wycombe, England. Prior to his current assignment, he was Operations Officer for the Standing Joint Task Force. MARFORLANT. His tiret deploj rnent as Commanding Officer was with the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group, which participated in Operation Siler Wake, contingency support for a non-combatant evacuation CNEOJ of Albania. and Operation Guard- iari Petrie. al. contingency support for a NEO of Kinshasa. Zaire. ffmloriel fiardrierl, aixartls and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal. Legion of Merit. Defense '2ler1ff,i iou . Ser .tree Nledal. Vleritorious Service Medal. Air Medal with Strike Numeral NavyCommendation 'ilefial arid lfr'ef,iflei'itial Ser 'i.i ice Badge Ile and his wife. the former Barbara Becker of Hanover. Germany, are the H it if' of thief: bo p'l. l'liilip Cfliristian. and Nicholas. l

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Command Master Chief USS WASP CLHD- lj SliCMtSSl Thielen is a native of Miami, Florida. He enlisted in the US. Navy in November 197-1 and attended recruit training in Orlando. Florida. He then completed Storclceeper School at NTTC Meridian, Mississippi and immediately entered the Submarine Force at Basic Submarine School, Groton. Connecti- cut. He reported to his first submarine. USS CASIMIR PLL.-XSKI QSSBN 6331 Gold Crew in May 1975. completed four SSBN patrols, earned his Dolphins, and xx as promoted to SK31SSl. He then split toured to the USS FINBACK CSSN 6701 in October 1977 and reenlisted for orders to the PRECOMUNIT DALLAS QSSN 7001 in Groton, Connecticut. In October 1979 he received orders to the PRECOMUNIT SAN FRANCISCO CSSN 71 lj as the Leading Storekeeper. After sailing with the SAN FRANCISCO to the west coast he returned in October 1981 to Norfolk. Virginia as Leading Storekeeper aboard USS LAPON QSSN 6611 where he completed a Mediterranean Sea deployment and was selected for the Naxys EEAP program . In September 1983 he was frocked Chief Petty Officer. He earned an Associates Degree in Management and in May 1985 he reported to FBM NAVIGATION TEST UNIT, a Naval research detachment embarked on USNS VANGUARD, Cape Canaveral. Florida. In June 1987 he was selected for duty at Naval Reactors Division of the Department of Energy, Washington. DC and advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer. In July 1989 he reported to the USS OKLA- HOMA CITY ISSN 7231 as the Leading Storekeeper and Assistant Chief of the Boat. He was selected Master Chief Petty Officer in April 1990. SKCMCSSJ Thielen's next assignment was the USS L.Y. SPEAR IAS-361 as assistant SUBSAT OFFICER from January 1992 to October 1992. ln October 1992 he reported to the USS KEY WEST ISSN 7221. Norfolk. Virginia, as the Chief of the Boat CCOBJ. In April 1994 , SKCMCSSJThie1en was selected Squadron Master Chief, Commander Submarine Squadron 8,Norfo1k, Virginia until January 1997. He then attended the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. Newport. Rhode Island. Upon graduation, he reported for duty to USS WASP KLHD- l J, Com- mand Master Chief. SKCMISSI Thielcn's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal fwfgold starl, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal KWX3 gold slarsl, Good Conduct Medal fvvflour bronze starsl. I He is married to the former Robin Bailey ol' Hampton. Virginia and has one son. Pele .lr.