Decatur (DDG 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR MICHAEL L. BENO EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR Mike Beno was born in Las Vegas, NV on November 18, 1966. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. Upon completion of the Surface Warfare Officer School Division Officer Course he reported to USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG 32) and served as Electronic Warfare Officer, Naviga- tor, and Administrative Officer. Ashore, Lieutenant Commander Beno attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA where he earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. I Returning to sea, he served as Operations Officer in USS BARRY (DDG 52) and as Assistant Sur- face Operations Officer for Commander Carrier Group EIGHT (THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battlegroup). LCDR Beno graduated from the U.S. Army Com- mand General Staff College, FT Leavenworth, KS in 2001 . His personal decorations include three 2 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals Ji4 and the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is married to the former Carmen Nicomedez. The couple has a five year old son.

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CDR VICTORINO G. MERCADO COMMANDING OFFICER CDR Vic Mercado was bom in Portsmouth, Virginia on February 20, 1961. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Computer Science. His first assignment after Surface Warfare Officers School in Coronado, California was Missile Fire Control Officer and later Combat Information Center Officer in USS LEFTWICH (DD 984). Next, he served as the Damage Control Assistant in USS VALLEY FORGE (CG 50) where he participated in the re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tanker escort operations in the Arabian Gulf. Rotating ashore, CDR Mercado earned a Master of Science in Systems Technology in Joint Command, Control and Communications from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, completed Department Head School with distinction, and returned to sea as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS ANTIETAM (CG 54). During a 40 month tour in ANTIETAM, he oversaw the first ever installation, test, evaluation and deployment of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) with the CARL VINSON Battle Group. Additionally, during the deployment, he assisted in the enforcement of the no-fly zone over southern Iraq in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. CDR Mercado s most recent sea assignment was with the Forward Deployed Naval Force as Executive Officer in USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54) homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. His most notable accomplishments during this tour were the planning and execution of CURTIS WILBUR ' s homeport shift from San Diego to Japan and deployment with the INDEPENDENCE Battle Group as the Air Warfare Commander. CDR Mercado ' s significant shore assignments include Washington D.C. tours with the Navy ' s engineering and acquisition community, the Navy Staff, and as a Congressional Fellow. He was the Command. Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) Warfare Systems Engineering Manager for the AEGIS Program Manager (PMS 400) and served as an Action Officer and as the Vice Director, Navy Staff for Staff Operations and Special Events (N09BX) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to reporting to DECATUR, he served as the National Defense Legislative Fellow for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee in the 106th Congress. CDR Mercado ' s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals and various individual and unit campaign medals. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Air University in Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama and is also a former Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Shiphandler of the Year award winner. CDR Mercado is married to the former Ms. Suzane Balan. They have two children - Daniel (12) and Melinda (9) and call Oxnard, California home.

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CMDCM NORMAN PRETLOW COMMAND MASTER CHIEF Master Chief Pretlow was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 22, 1964. He entered the Navy in June 1982 and attended recruit training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Master Chief Pretlow ' s sea duty assignments include: USS DURHAM (LKA 114), CAPE COD (AD43), USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7), and USS KINKAID (DD 965). His shore assignments include: Recruit Training Command San Diego as a Recruit Company Commander (RCC) and Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois as Recruit Division Commander (RDC). He attended Instructor Training and both Recruit Company Commander and Recruit Division Commander C Schools. His personal awards include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars. 6