Whidbey Island (LSD 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR Etta 'CJ' Jones graduated from Greenwood Community High School, Greenwood. Indiana, in 1982. Shejoined the Navy in 1985 as an Electronics Technician. Completing Recruit Training in Orlando, Florida, she graduated as the Honor Recruit for Company K010 and was meritoriously promoted to E-3. LCDR Jones then went on to Basic Electronics and Electricity School and Elec- tronics Technician 'A and 'Cn Schools. While stationed at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads. Puerto Rico, she was promoted to E-5, completed Enlisted Aviation Warfare qualification, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree through New Hamp- shire College, Magna Cum Laude. After reenlisting, she went on to complete an A.S. in Accounting and an MBA While serving in Naval Recruiting District, Chicago, LCDR Jones had the pleasure of enlisting her younger sister in the Navy. Following recruiting duty, LCDR Jones was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and was commissioned 10 July 1992 Her officer billets have included: RASE lReplenishment at Sea Equipmenti, Auxiliaries Officer, and Electrical Of- Gcer while serving on USS WHITE PLAINS IAFS 41 where she qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer As Damage Control Assistant and Main Propulsion Assistant on USS KINKAID lDD 965I, she qualified as a Gas Turbine Engineer of the Watch During her Division Officer tours, she enjoyed crossdeck training aboard USS AMERICA ICV 669, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN lCVN 653. USS REID lFFG 30I. USF Korea. and JMDS Tokiwa Prior to transferring to NROTC Purdue University, LCDR Jones served on the N1 Staff. Commander Naval Surface Forces, Pacific as a Command Action Ofhcer. While assigned to X Purdue, she was selected at the NROTC Instructor of the Year and received the Leo A. Codd Memorial Award among other accomplishments. Subsequent sea duty assignments include tours as Chief Engineer .aboard USS BRISCOE lDD 977i and USS MON TERY QCG 617. LCDR Jones completed deploy- ments on both vessels and served as a Tactical Action Officer in addition to her engineering duties. LCDR Jones' operational experience includes deployments in support of Korean Contingency Opera- tions, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southem Watch, Operation Restore HopelUNOSOM, RIMPAC, RSOI in Korea, Kernel Blitz and Ulchi Focus Lens. She has completed two extensive shipyard periods to include two successful drydockings. As a Department Head Afloat, she participated in Operation Croatian Hawk, LAWD, Maritime Intervention Operations in both 5th and 6th Fleets. Operation Enduring Freedom during two Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf Deployments. LCDR Jones spends her off-duty time as the Director of United States Combined Services Womens Rugby, as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and flying as a private pilot. Her personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Pistol Expert, and various unit and campaign awards. She is also a graduate of the Naval War College. 11