Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 50 EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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COMMANDING OFFICER CVN-63 Captain Robert L. Leuschner, Jr., U.S. Navy A native of Waco, Texas where he was bom in 1935, Captain R.L. Skip Leuschner, Jr. attended secondary school in San Diego, Cali- fornia and entered Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1953. He earned his Bachelor ' s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1 957, receiv- ing his commission as an Ensign through the NROTC program. Captain Leuschner entered flight training in September 1957 and was designated a Naval aviator at Corpus Christi, Texas, in December 1958. Early in 1959, he reported to Fighter Squadron ONE FOUR FOURat NASMiramar, California, which later became Attack Squad- ron FIVE TWO. There he served a four-year tour flying the propeller- driven A-1 Skyraider. Thistourof duty took him to the Western Pacific in USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14) and to South America in USS LEXINGTON (now AVT 16). From Attack Squadron FIVE TWO, Cap- tain Leuschner became a student at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1963, followed by a two-year tour as a test pilot and project officer in the center ' s Flight Test Division. Transitioning to the A-4 Skyhawk at NAS Lemoore, California, in 1966, Captain Leuschner deployed to Southeast Asia in 1967 in USS INTREPID (CVS 1 1), serving as squadron Safety and Weapons Officer. He later transitioned to the A-7B Corsair II at NAS Lemoore, and deployed to Southeast Asia in 1 969 with Attack Squadron TWO ONE FIVE embarked in USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). From 1969 until 1972, he was assigned to the A-7B readiness squadron. Attack Squadron ONE TWO FIVE, at NAS Lemoore, serving as Weapons Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer. During this period, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for establishing the Pacific Fleet Light Weapons School (LAWS) for postgraduate level air-to-ground weapons training. From 1 972 to 1 974, Captain Leuschner served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron ONE FIVE FIVE, the Silver Foxes, flying the A-7B Corsair II from the deck of the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) during this third and fourth Southeast Asia deployments. In 1974, heattendedtheCollegeof Naval Warfare at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Leuschner was selected for nuclear power training in 1 975 and completed the curriculum early in 1977. He reported to USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) in June 1977 to relieve as Operations Officer. The following year, he became NIMITZ ' s third Executive Officer, where he served until July 1979. Following a short tour of shore duty on the staff of the Commander Tactical Wings, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Captain Leuschner assumed com- mand of the combat stores ship, USS SAN DIEGO (AFS 6), in cere- monies in Haifa, Israel in July 1 980. This 21 -month tour included two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, providing logistics support to the ships and personnel of the United States SIXTH Fleet. In March 1982, he reported to the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, where he directed a variety of special projects to improve the combat readiness and material condition of the United States SIXTH Fleet aircraft carriers. Captain Leuschner assumed command of USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) on June 17, 1983. Captain Leuschner ' s individual awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (28 awards). Navy Commenda- tion Medal with Gold Star and Combat V , Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Joint Services Commenda- tion Medal and various theater and campaign ribbons. Captain Leuschner has been selected for promotion to the rank of Commodore. He is married to the former Carlene Holwerda of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Captain and Mrs. Leuschner reside with their three chil- dren, Robert III, Carl Alan and Staciann in Alameda, California. COMMANDING OFFICER 149

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER CVN-63 Captain Joseph J. Dantone, Jr., U.S. Navy Captain Dantone was born in Baltimore, Md. Upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964 with a Bachelor ' s Degree in Electrical Science, he was commissioned an Ensign and entered flight training in July 1964. He was designated a Naval aviator in September 1965. In May 1966, Captain Dantone was assigned to Fighter Squadron EIGHTY FOUR flying F-4 Phantoms. During this tour he made an extended Mediterranean deployment on board USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62). In March 1967, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron ONE SIX ONE. During this tour he made two Western Pacific deployments on board the USS CORAL SEA (CVA 43). In August of 1969, he reported to U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he earned a Master ' s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering (AeE) and Material Management. In June 1973, Captain Dantone was assigned to Fighter Squadron ONE as the Maintenance and Operations Officer flying F-14 Tomcats. During this tour the squadron made an extended Western Pacific deployment on board USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). In May 1976, Captain Dantone reported to Commander Naval Air Systems Command as F-14 Program Assistant Deputy for Training. Returning to the Fleet in August 1977, Captain Dantone became Executive Officer of Fighter Squadron FOURTEEN flying F-14s from USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) and later became Commanding Officer in July 1979. After his command tour, he served as the Fighter Training Officer for Commander Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet which was followed by a year and a half of nuclear power training. Captain Dantone reported to USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in January 1983 as Executive Officer. Captain Dantone ' s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (six awards). Navy Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal and Republic of Vietnam Armed forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross). He is married to the former Maria E. Szolnoky of Buffalo, N.Y. They have two children, a son. Jay, and a daughter, Marne. His family currently resides in Alameda, Calif. EXECUTIVE OFFICER 151