Elrod (FFG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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Q!! , 1 , Y WY. . ..li....n .Vw Y, ,1- l1'T:1'E- .1 . lr,-J :,,!f!1jg.,'.13 is Ag,- V.!.. l0U,.,.l. . ovem er A H - eptem er if U riginally enlisting in the US Navy in 1978, Commander Stephen H. Kelley was assigned to USS GOLDSBOROUGH CDDG 205 as an Operations Specialist before attending the BOOST Program in 1979. He is a 1984 N ROTC graduate of Marquette University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. His at-sea commissioned assignments inc Division Officer in USS LONG BEACH C Control Officer in USS BUNKER System Officer in USS SCOTT CD Surface Operations Officer for Destroyer Group Eight, Surface Commander, U.S. Forces, South USCOMSOLANT, and Executi deployments, he conducted Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Ashore, he earned Masters o Postgraduate School in 1990, and N the Aimed Forces in 2002. His most the Surface Warfare Directorate CN-765 and from May 1999 to August 2001. C six i Ocean, :h from Naval Industrial College of avy Staff COPNAVJ in Defense Review Office His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal Ctwo gold starsj, the Navy Commendation Medal Cfour gold starsj and the Navy Achievement Medal Ctwo gold starsj. He is married to the former Michelle Brower from Kenosha, WI and they have three children Maren, Stephen and Michael. 6

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S ELROD was built at the Bath lron Works in Maine, and was commissioned 6 July, 1985. The ship was originally home- ported in Charleston, South Carolina and shifted to Norfolk, Virginia in March, 1995. USS ELROD has completed five deployments to the Arabian Gulf, three to the Mediterranean Sea, and one to the Adriatic Sea, and has participated in numerous operations in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the Caribbean Sea. During the Arabian Gulf and Adriatic Sea deployments, USS ELROD has protected Americals vital interests in these regions and contributed to our naval presence during periods of hostility as well as calm. ELROD's third Arabian Gulf deployment followed Operation Desert Storm and supported aggressive air and surface surveillance operations. ELROD conducted naval exercises with units of Gulf Cooperation Council nations to strengthen and ftuther develop the bonds that were forged during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The ship participated in Teamwork '92, N ATO,s Arctic Ocean anti-submarine exercise, and Operation Sharp Guard, in support of multi-national enforcement of United Nations sanctions and embargoing war materials to the Balkans. ELROD demonstrated America's commitment to her NATO allies by providing a presence among the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean CSNFMN and Standing Naval Force Atlantic CSNFLN during Operation Enduring Freedom. Recently, ELROD completed another deployment in 2004 with our NATO allies in support of Operation Endeavor, and helped protect the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece by participating in Operation Distinguished Games. ELROD crew members have served with pride and distinction as ambassadors of America and spokesmen for our Navy, hosting official and unofficial visits for foreign military, business and civilian dignitaries throughout the world, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel, Greece, Italy, France and Croatia. USS ELROD has sailed the maj or oceans of the world, transited the Panama and Suez canals, and crossed both the equator and the Arctic Circle. In addition to a reputation for operational readiness and fighting skills, ELROD has eamed a reputation for community support and participation in charitable projects. The ship has been recognized for the crewis contributions by designation as a Presidential Point of Light? ELROD has also eamed numerous awards during her commissioned service, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Cormnendation, Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, four Battle Efficiency Excellence Awards, Secretaiy of the Navy Energy Conservation Award, Armed Forces Recreation Society Award and various departmental and mission-specific awards for excellence. Uss ELRoD CFFG-555 f K K N N N N N N N N I ,P ,P N r N Uss ,FFG-55jr Uss EDROD 4gFFG-553+ Uss .EDROD .RFFG-553, Uss Ef..RoD KFFG-55N Uss E1.RoD QPFG-553+ Uss ELR.oD WPG-553, Uss EDRCD UIFG-553, rss ELROD QFFG-553+ Uss Ei 0 VFFG-553 Uss Eg1.RoD .QFFG-553+ Uss ELROD 4512126-55 31 Uss EEROD i1FPGn55, Uss EL ,D CFFG-55,v Uss .EQQ D QFFG-553+ Uss ELROD QQPFG-55, Uss EL D CFFG-55N Uss EL D QFFG-553, Uss Ei.RoD mio-55N Uss ELRODCFFG-5511 Uss E1L.RoD QFFG-55jr Uss ELROD QPFG-553+ Uss Ei? D ii.FFG'553i Uss EIQ.R.OD igaao-55, Uss ELROD QQFFG-55,n Uss D CFFG-551+ Uss ELROD .QPPG-553+ Uss ED D qrrlo-55, Uss Epi, QD QFFG-55, Uss E1.RoD ijrisoa-55, Diss EL D QFFG-553, Uss EL. D QFPG-55, Uss EigRoD qrlrao-55,i Uss E1 D CFFG-555 Uss ELROD +1FFo-553, Uss ELRODQQFFG-551: Uss EL. D QPFG-553, Uss 1-3g.g.RoD 4gFFo-553+ USS ELRO D CFFG-555 5 i

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Commander David Schweizer USS ELRODCommanding Officer C15 September 2004 - Present! C ommander Schweizer was born in Nuremberg, Germany in March 1962. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in May 1985. At sea, Commander Schweizer has served in a variety of platforms. He arrived to USS STERETT CCG 315, homeported in Subic Bay, Philippines in 1986. During this tour he in various combat systems and engineering and made several Western Pacific Jloyments. Commander Schweizer's we e in USS HARRY W HILL CDD 9.865 and U 6 CCG 225 from 1991-1994, both as Combat Systems Departmefit Head. In 1994, Commander Si te-.izer stood up PR Jx, 1'f I T WHIRLWIND and ultimately commissioned USS ' Y IND CPC 115 in Jul 1995 was ,.,,C. Commanding Officer. He took WHIRLWIN D through er first inter-deploym nt trai ng cycle and maiden six-month deployment to the SOUTHC M AORi!pri'3rs, o deta ing if March 1997. . . W is. In September 1999, Coitqrriggariir Schweizer repo ,vtr as Executive Officer of USS ROSS CDDG 715, participated in BAE:iQRPS,Mand the ed in October 2000. His follow-on tour was as Chief Staff Officer for Destfwer Squa iEIGHTEEN where he experienced the final phase of the Inter-deployment Training Cycle, Group Sails, COMPTUEX, JTFEX and the first four months of a Mediterranean deployment. He detached in August 2001. Ashore, Commander Schweizer attended Naval Postgraduate School from 1989-1991, earning an MS in Computer Systems. From June 1996 to June 1999, he served as Department Head instructor and Coastal Patrol Ship instructor for Prospective Commanding Officers at the Surface Warfare Officers School command. Commander Schweizer's most recent tour was on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations serving in the Requirements and J ROC Division CN8105 from September 2001 until December 2003. Commander Schweizer assumed command of USS ELROD CFFG 555 on 1 September 2004 while underway in the Mediterranean Sea. He is married, has a son, and resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 7