Briscoe (DD 977) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer CDR JAMES B. MORIN, USN Commander James B. Morin, was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in March 1951. The son of a Naval Officer, Commander Morin lived in several areas of the United States while growing up, graduating from Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, in 1969, and from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1973. Following commissioning in June 1973, Commander Morin attended one year of nuclear propulsion training. He then reported to the USS CALIFORNIA (CGN-36) where he served as the Reactor Con- trols Officer and Electrical Officer. In December 1977, Commander Morin was assigned to the staff of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, New York. He completed two and one-half years of service there as an instructor and the Navy Department Head for the surface reactor prototype. Commander Morin attended the Surface Warfare Officers ' Department Head Course in Newport, Rhode Island, and, in 1981, was assigned as Operations Officer in USS HAROLD E. HOLT (FF-1074). During the last eight months of his tour in HAROLD E. HOLT, he served as the Engineer Officer. Commander Morin was ordered to the staff of Commander, Naval Military Personnel Command, in 1983. He served there for over two years as the Assignment Officer for Surface Warfare Officers with Nuclear Propulsion Training. Prior to taking command of BRISCOE, Commander Morin served as the Executive Officer in USS VIRGINIA (CGN-38). He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. Commander Morin ' s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), Navy Commen- dation Medal, and Battle Efficiency E (four awards). Commander Morin is married to Louise Mackisack of Dannevirke, New Zealand. She is the Director of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the Riverside Rehabilitation Institute. They make their home in Norfolk, Virginia.

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(DD 977) USS BRISCOE was commissioned 3 June 1978 at the Ingalls Ship- building Division of Liton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She is the fifteenth in a series of thirty-one SPRUANCE class destroyers. BRISCOE bears the name of Ad- miral Robert P. Briscoe, U.S. Navy. He served with distinction during World War I, World War II, and the Korean Conflict. He retired from the Navy in 1959 as a four star Admiral. A versatile, multi-mission plat- form, USS BRISCOE was developed primarily for anti-submarine war- fare. She carries advanced under- water detection, tracking, and tar- geting systems. BRISCOE is also capable of engaging targets on the ocean surface, providing naval gun- fire support to ground forces ashore, and defending against air attack. Since commissioning, BRISCOE has deployed once to the Indian Ocean, once as a member of Stand- ing Naval Forces Atlantic, and three times to the Mediterranean. BRIS- COE participated in Operation Ur- gent Fury in support of Grenada and as part of the United Nation ' s Multi- National Peacekeeping Forces off the coast of Lebanon. BRISCOE has been the test platform for several new systems, including the on-going evaluation of the NATO Sea Spar- row Vertical Launch Missile Sys- tem. 3

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Executive Officer LCDR MARK A. STEARNS, USN Born in Oskosh, Wisconsin, 5 April 1954, Lieutenant Commander Stearns attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1977 with a degree in Business Management Manpower and Economics. Following commissioning 1 July 1977 at Officers Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, he reported to the USS CHARLESTON (LKA-113) where his assignment included deck, gunnery and engineering. In September 1980 to September 1982, LCDR Stearns served as the Flag Lieutenant to the Commander Naval Safety Cen- ter, Norfolk, Virginia. Upon graduation from Department Head School, LCDR Stearns served in USS DONALD B. BEARY (FF-1085) from June 1984 until January 1985 as Chief Engineer. His second Department Head tour was in USS FARRAGUT (DDG-37) from January 1985 through November 1986, again, as Chief Engi- neer. In December of 1986, LCDR Stearns reported to Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) Newport, Rhode Island, serving as a Department Head In- structor, as well as overseeing simulator procurement and operations. De- taching SWOS in August 1989, he reported for duty as Executive Officer of USS BRISCOE (DD-977). LCDR Stearns ' awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. LCDR Stearns is married to the former Sandra Lynne Milne of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have one child, James, born 18 October 1988.