Whidbey Island (LSD 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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operations at sea, worldwide, in sup: policy. WHIDBEY ISLAND MISSION USS WHIDBEY ISLAND i'LSO out its mission conducting prompt and fb C , I Go rw N Q 4 f-A -- I I ,x gulf: ,.: J I Designed, built and manned to Carr, maneuver-warfare vehicles and 'over-tie-tncozof' amphibious vehicles, WHIDBEY ISLA'lS - rtcfse ported at Little Creek Amphibious Base under command of Commander Arrwp TWO - can carry four landinq craft air Cu KLCACI or thirty-six amphibious assa J tAAVl in its floodable well During ass il 'A 1 I -r' if i.1. .1 O ', di F r .I WHIDBEY ISLAND semes as Prirriaff and provides a boat haven with dofglfi I 1,- j ,ily D 4 ,I 'SD refueling services to lanriinq craft .irfd po.ai'f, tr A I I making it ideally suited to support our it foremost strike assert thi: IJ S hlaririe, riff Thr: USS WHIDBEY ISL Al'-'JU-f,l.i introduces I0 the Hunt '.iqriifir,,irit iiriprri Jtfiflffll' , ir cornrnunirzzitioris, i,oriiti.itr.v. f 1 I Jil 5 ton crzinrrs, rfxpairirtml repair nlirip-, t.-iii limit iipttff , r lfmding npritu, .iiitriinitiffl .iirrmiit--r if i --l support mul. fi. . t- 1 fr---f if ifl ,N :I f 4 I ' ' . . 4-, sg it ! hi 1. us 1-.-s-:sbs , A il 'N - 1 ' : I I- '-. riieiitnprzrations - g.i . i 'i.-- iii li fIt,f'Illlit3ElSIl'lWIIVIIITIC.II'IU -- ' ' ' lliilil Ii'ISIMANUr,1irirg:lrryOt1I2lWIdQ . V ' i '.iii ttarizir'i11isSir1li'sI incliiriing . i' ..i' I tif! tif-.Astor rr:lir:fr'ipr:mIi0n5 Dosrgreri .-.wth the primary missions of 1f'i'if'f:fiatiq .warfare mobility, command and control arf! ses'-defepse in mind, WHIDBEY ISLAND supports Special Warfare. fleet support operations :reiieiing other shipsl. non-combatant evacuation operations ocean surveillance and electronic warfare Ciearly a multi-mission capable ship, WHIDBEY ISLANDS crew. embarked Marines and detachments must be, and are multi-talented. Everyone aboard is privileged and proud to serve aboard USS WHIDBEY ISLAND CLSD 415. LK,

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E ww Ji ,Q ,Q-...' ....,.v,f,g if gg' . . Aig,'..:' ,jig.1ij5k,g, COIVIIVIANDING OFFICER USS WHIDBEY ISLAND LSD 41 CDR Erik M. Ross is a native ofAppleton, Wisconsin. He studied Government and Interna- tional Relations at Cornell University, graduating with a Bachelor ofArts degree in Government in 1988. He received his commission through NROTC Cornell. CDR Ross first served at sea C1989 - 19911 as Gunnery Oficer and Electrical Ofhcer in USS CORONADO CAGF 111. He next served at sea C1992 - 19931 as Assistant Operations and Plans OfHcer on the staff of Commander, Amphibi- ous Squadron One, deploying with the TARAWA Amphibious Ready Group CARG1 to the Arabian Gulfand Western Pacific. CDR Ross served his first Department Head tour 11996 - 19971 as Operations Officer in USS CALLAGHAN QDDG 9941, deploying to the Eastern and Southern Pacihc. His second Department Head tour C1997 - 19991 was as Operations and Plans Oficer on the Staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four. During this tour he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea with the NASSAU ARG and participated in Operation Allied Force. CDR Ross next served at sea Q2001 - 20031 as Executive Ofncer in USS PEARL HARBOR QLSD 521, deploying in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Most recently 12003 - 20041, he served as Operations Ofhcer in USS TARAWAQLHA 11. wi 1 wif? l CDR Ross first served ashore as a - Student in the Advanced Education Program l QAEP1 at the University of San Diego, graduating l with a Master of Arts Degree in international f Relations in 1995. From 1999 to 2001, he served - as a Programs and Requirements Ofhcer in the Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate on-the staff of Commander, United States PaciHc Command. Most recently C2004-20051, CDR Ross was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel QOPNAV NOOKP- l l l CDR Ross has been awarded the DefenS9 Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal tfour awards1, and the Navy Achievement Medal and various unit and campaign avll8fdS- l . '-i