Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - Naval Cruise Book

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,1: (; : ' ' P ' ' f - it fiy ■ : ' ,iM: msa tf tis t --3. ' . -r iy is- .. ' ; ' jasv a t v FICER Captain Robert F. Willard, a Los Angeles native, is a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Following his designation as a Naval Aviator in 1974, he reported to Fighter Squadron ONE TWENTY FOUR (VF 124) at Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif., for F-14 training. In 1975, following F-14 training, he joined Fighter Squadron TWENTY FOUR (VF 24) and deployed with USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). In 1978, Captain Willard returned to VF 124 as an instruc- tor and Advanced Tactics Phase Leader. He then returned to the fleet in 1981 with Fighter Squadron TWO (VF 2), where he served as Operations Officer embarked on USS RANGER (CV 61) and USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63). While with the Bounty Hunters of VF 2, Captain Willard was named Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) 1982 Tailhooker of the Year. Captain Willard reported to Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 1984, where he assumed duties as Execu- tive Officer, Operations Officer and as an instructor. While at TOPGUN, he devised Air Wing Overland Air Superiority, executed jointly with the Navy Strike Warfare Center in Fallon, Nev. He also served as aerial coordinator for the movie Top Gun. Following a brief tour as Executive Officer of VF 124, Captain Willard reported to Fighter Squadron FIFTY ONE (VF 51) in 1987, where he served as Executive Officer and later as Commanding Officer. Embarked on USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70), his Screaming Eagles twice supported Operation Earnest Will in the Arabian Gulf. In 1990, Captain Willard was selected to attend Nuclear Power School. Following graduation in 1992, he rejomed the crew of CARL VINSON as Executive Officer. Captain Willard assumed command of USS TRIPOLI (LPH 10) in 1994, while the flagship was supporting opera- tions in Mogadishu, Somalia. Later, the USS TRIPOLI Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) was the first to respond to the renewed Iraqi threat to Kuwait, and in doing so, received the Navy Unit Commendation Medal for their part in Operation Vigilant Warrior. Captain Willard assumed command of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) in August 1995. Captain Willard ' s awards include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and a Navy Achievement Medal. He has accumulated 3,600 flight hours and 850 carrier landings. Captain Willard and his wife Domia reside in San Diego, Calif., with their children Jennifer, Bryan and Mark. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Willard of Sunnyvale, Calif.

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.., ' .T-.- -as Jcvtt-tfhiH.r - ' VX. ain Robert E Willard

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Captain Ric ha rd J . . ibe, born in Boone, Iowa, received his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in J une 1968. Awarded an Alfred P. Sloane Fellowship, he received his postgraduate education at Princeton University in aeronautical engineering prior to his assignment to NAS Pensacola, Florida for flight training in 1970. After designation as a Naval Aviator in November 1971, he was assigned to Attack Squadron ONE TWENTY-SEVEN (VA-127) in Lemoore, CaUfonua as a flight instructor and Fleet Replacement Pilot Training Officer flying the A-4F Skyhawk . In April 1973, Captain Nibe reported to Attack Squadron ONE SIXTY-FOUR (VA-164) embarked on USS HANCOCK (CVA 19). Serving as Line Division Officer, Aviation QuaUty Assurance Officer and Administrative Officer, he completed two deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Assigned to Headquarters, Defense Nuclear Agency, Washington D.C., in October 1975, he assumed responsibility for several weapon-effects research programs in the Aerospace Systems Division under the direction of the Deputy Director for Science and Technology. In October of 1978, Captain Nibe returned to NAS Lemoore for flight training in the A-7E Corsair 11 with Attack Squadron ONE TWENTY-TWO (VA-122). Upon completion of training, he reported as Department Head t o Attack Squadron ONE FORTY-SEVEN (VA-147) embarked on USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). Beginning in March 1982, he attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. After graduation in 1983, he returned to Washington D.C. to serve as a staff officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Plans and Policy Division, Stategic Concepts Branch (OP 603). Again flying the A-7E, Captain Nibe subsequently reported to Attack Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VA-83) as Executive Officer. His tour with VA-83 spanned the better part of three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea embarked in USS SARATOGA (CV 60), including one excursion to the Indian Ocean and Northern Arabian Sea via the Suez Canal. He assumed command of the squadron in April 1986. Following squadron command, he was assigned as Air Operations Officer on the staff of Commander, Carrier Group FOUR prior to attending Nuclear Power School in May 1988. He served in USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) as Executive Officer before assuming command of USS CORONADO (AGE 11) in August 1991. He is a designated Joint Specialty Officer (JSO) and a proven subspecialist in Aeronautical Engineering. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. Captain Nibe and his wife Phvllis reside in Alameda, California with their two children Kristin and John. l- ' TWO HUMPCAtltU SL