Bon Homme Richard (LHD 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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1997 to May 1998. and LtGen BB. Knutson, Jr. from May 1998 to September 1998. After his tour as the aide-de- camp, Maj. Kennedy was moved to the Force Fires Branch of the 1 MEF G-3 where he later became the Force Fires Coordinator. LtCol Kennedy was promoted to LtCol on 1 October 1998. After reporting to MAG-11 in October of 1999, LtCol Kennedy served as the Assistant Operations Officer from May of 2000 to November of 2002, he served as MAG-11 Executive Officer. LtCo1 Kennedy took command of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 on 13 December 2002 and only six weeks later deployed as the lead MAG-11 squadron to the CENTCOM AOR to support Operations SOUTHERN WA IRAQI FREEDOM. Following OIF Col Assistant Chief of Staff G-5 for Wing and has just Anbar over as an NFO over 2000 as a Naval His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation Medal the Sea Service Deployment Meritorious Service .J XT!-3 xy ., -L . 5'-18 X' Am 1? 1' .ax Cixi--.

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. N A if . i j , ,,j,-,,-,Am 4. IF , s.1 rgw'lri--'l,L+,g':1 ., . ii' .2 , 7 if .V 'Nb-14 'f ilf7'l 1:4 ' 't f'l' 'Lili-- Lu ' Y . r A' ' I .. ' - f f j A native of Dallas, Texas, Col Kennedy attended Southern Methodist Universigf until l980, when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Pvt Kennedy completed Basic Training in May of I98l as the Honorman of Platoon 3020 and was meritorioushf promoted to the rank of Private First Class. He was then assigned to the logistics Department of the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego until December of l98l when he was accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program. ln April of l982, Candidate Kennedy completed the Il9th Officer Candidates Class as the Honor Graduate and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After completion of the Basic School as the Leadership Award winner, he reported to Pensacola, Florida for training as a Naval Flight Officer. He earned his NFO wings in September of i983 and attended a six-week photo-reconnaissance school at Bergstrom Air Force Base before reporting to VMFAT-lOl at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. IstLt Kennedy reported to VMFP-3 at MCAS El Toro, California in August of l984. During his two years at VMFP-3, lstLt Kennedy served as the NATOPS Officer, Aviational Safety Officer, and Schedules Officer. He accompanied VMFP-3 Det C to WestPac in November of i985 as the Director of S3fCQf and Standardization and as the Assistant Operations Officer. In November of l986, Captain Kennedy was selected for the Pilot Conversion Training Program and received orders back to Pensacola, Florida. He completed his Advanced let Training at Beeville, Texas, and was designated a Naval Aviator in September of l988. Capt Kennedy was then assigned to VMFAT-lOl in El Toro. California for training in the FIA-I8 Hornet. Having completed training at VMFAT-lOl, Capt Kennedy was then assigned to the Grey Ghosts of VMFA-53l where he assumed the duties of Airframes Officer. ln October of l988, he deployed to WestPac with the Grey Ghosts where he also inherited the additional duties of Powerline Officer. Returning to CONUS in April I990, Capt Kennedy was designated an Air Combat Tactics instructor IACTIJ, and in Iune was assigned as the Pilot Training Officer. He attended the Naval Fighter Weapons School in October of l990. In February of I99l, Capt Kennedy once again deployed to WestPac with the Grey Ghosts. Returning home from WestPac in August of l99l, Capt Kennedy was transferred to VMFAT-lOl as an F!A-I8 Instructor Pilot. During his two years with the Sharpshooters, Capt Kennedy served as the Powerline Officer, the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and as the Air-to-Air Phase Head. He also completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management during his off-dug' weekend hours. In December of I993, Capt Kennedy completed the Tactical Air Control Pargf Course at LFTCPac and was assigned to the Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division as the Regimental Air Officer. In january of I994, he was promoted to Major. Following a one year tour with the Fifth Marines, where he also served as the Regimental Operations Officer and Regimental Executive Officer. Major Kennedy was reassigned to VMFACAWJ-242, where he served as the Director of Safegf and Standardization, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer. His last assignment in Marine Aircraft Group li was as the Assistant Operations Officer tAdvanced Tactics Training lnstructorl. Upon joining l MEF, he served as the Aide-de-Camp for two commanding generals: LtGen CW. Fulford from September 10 '- . A ..1':-QQ.-Aiif2.i2tf?Vl:. if- - .- . if

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I ,-f. g Z ti ii il!ILlG'ili mm, Captain Michelle Howard graduated from '- Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado in l978. She attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in I982. Her initial shipboard assignments include USS HUNLEY IIAS 3Il and USS LEXINGTON IAVT I6l. While serving onboard the LEXING- TON, she received the Secretary of the Naxy!Navy League Captain WINIFRED COLLINS award in May I987. This award is given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership. From I987 to I990, she was as an instructor and later course coordinator at the STEAM Engineering Officer of the Watch IEOOWI course in Coronado, California. Captain Howard was a Distinguished Graduate from Department Head School in I990. to USS MOUNT FLINT IAE I993, she rotated to the Bureau of Personnel, as the Navy's liaison to the Defense Advisory Committee l 1 Military Services. 4 V action officer for the 0 ,,. Naxy policy. In Ianuary I996, I Executive Officer of USS TORTUGA She was the first woman in the Navy to be lb l ll lfl to the Adriatic Sea in support of Operation IOINT i ENDEAVOR, a peacekeeping effort in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. Sixgl days after returning from the Mediterranean deployment, TORTUGA departed on a West African Training Cruise, where the ship's Sailors, with embarked Marines and US Coast Guard detachment, operated with the naval services of seven African nations. Captain Howard graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College in lune I998. She completed a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences with a focus in History. When she assumed command of USS RUSHMORE ILSD 47l on I2 March I999, Captain Howard became the first African American woman to command a ship in the US Naxgf. RUSHMORE is the Naxys onhf Amphibious Smart Ship . The Smart Ship concept integrates and evaluates commercial off the shelf technologies for future fleet application. In December I999. RUSHMORE became the first Smart Ship to complete a six-month deployment. In November 2000, she was assigned to I-3, Global Operations, Readiness on the loint Staff in the Pentagon. In February 2003, she became the Executive Assistant to the loint Staff Director of Operations. Captain Howard assumed duties as Commander, Amphibious Squadron SEVEN in May 2004.