Cook (FF 1083) - Naval Cruise Book

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Command At Sea 19 October 1985- Present im m Commander Robert E. Lang In each ship there is one man who. in the hour oi emergency or peril at sea. can turn to no other man There is one who alone is ultimately responsible for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Officer. He is the ship. This IS the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instance during his tour as commanding officer that he can escape the grasp of command responsibility. It is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders. It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time honored title of the seagoing world , CAPTAIN. William Conrad Commander Lang was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 28. 1945, He is the son of Commander (CHC). Ret., and Mrs. R.F. Lang of Norfolk. Virginia, He attended Duke University and graduated from the U.S, Naval Academy in 1967, His initial assignment was in USS Harold J ELLISON (DD-864) as Gunnery Assistant Subsequent sea tours included USS DALE (DLG-19). USS KOELSCH (DE-1049). Staff, Commander Carrier Group ONE and Plankowner in USS FLETCHER (DD-992). Additional assignments were as instructor at the Naval Education and Training Center. Newport. R.I. and in the Office of Naval Operations, He was awarded a Master of Science degree in Systems Technology (Anti-Submarine Warfare) by the Naval Postgraduate School in 1977 and has since continued as an ASW sub specialist Commander Lang ' s decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and Sea S ervice Deployment Ribbon He is married to the former Emily McGilvary of Durham. North Carolina, They have five children: Jennifer, LeDavid, Kevin. Sarah and Amy and reside in San Diego.

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Commanding Offi cers 2 July 1983- 19 October 1985 Captain Donald J. DeGreef Farewell . . As I reflect back on my tour as Commanding Officer, the only ttiing above all others that stands out in my memory is the caliber of professionalism on COOK. A ship is only metal and material. What makes it a great ship is its crew, and it ' s been my good fortune to sail with the very best. By design or by luck, COOK has always had the winners. This crew has strived together as a team and accomplished what others only dream of They have set the standard and are the reason why COOK will always be the finest, fastest, fighting frigate in the fleet. Captain DeGreef, a native of Tacoma, Washington, enlisted in the Navy in August 1956. He was commissioned in December 1964 upon completion of Officer Candidate School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His initial duty assignment was to place USS WAINWRIGHT (CG-28) in commission as Assistant CIC Officer. He then placed the USS JOELSCH (FF-1049) in commission as CIC Officer. Following this duty, he attended the Naval Destroyer School at Newport, Rhode Island Captain DeGreef then served as Operations Officer aboard USS SAMPLE (FF-2048) and then on the staff of the Commander in Chief, US. Pacific Fleet. Following this assignment, he served as Operations Officer aboard USS TRUCTUN (CGN-35) and then served as Executive Officer on USS TURNER JOY (DD-951). Captain DeGreef ' s most recent assignment was at Fleet Combat Training Center, Pacific, where he served as Director of Training. Captain DeGreef and his wife Barbara reside in Rancho Bernardo with their two sons. Skip and Jonathan. They also have two married daughters, Julie Clarke and Lori Mills.

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Executive Off 1 nck-ra J y i - IV CiD September 1985 LCDR Lawrence V. Kester Lieutenant Commander Lawrence V. Kester was born in Zannesville. Otiio. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned in June. 1972. His first tour of duty was as assistant CIC Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer in USS KING (DLG-10). He went from tfie decommissioning of KING to the recommissioning of USS MAHAN (DLG-1 1) where he served as CIC Officer and was designated as Surface Warfare qualified. Following his tour on MAHAN he was assigned as a Naval Science Instructor at the NROTC Unit, University of Southern California where he taught for three years and earned a Ivlasters degree in Business Administration. Upon leaving USC he went to the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course and upon completion he proceeded to his first department head tour as Operations Officer in USS EDSON (DD- 946) He also served six months as Weapons Officer in EDSON. He then reported to USS DAHLGREN (DDG-43) as Weapons Officer. Following his tour on DAHLGREN he reported aboard USS COOK as its executive Officer. He has combat experience in Vietnam and his decorations include the Navy Achievement Medal. Combat Action Ribbon, and various other campaign and service medals. He has earned command qualification. Lieutenant Commander Kester is married to Lieutenant Nori A. Reed, also a Surface Warfare Officer. They reside in San Diego