Gunston Hall (LSD 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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WELCOME ABOARD LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CHRISTOPHER B. CHACE EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Chace was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on 28 August 1954. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in government from Florida State University in 1978 and was commissioned an Ensign through the Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island in May of 1979. Lieutenant Commander Chace ' s first assignment was in USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) where he served from June 1979 through April 1983 as the Auxil- iaries Officer, Damage Control Assistant and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. In May, 1983 Lieutenant Commander Chace was assigned to the Instructional Staff at Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, Dam neck, Virginia where he served as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer until April 1985. Lieutenant Commander Chace attended the Department Head School at Surface Warfare Officer ' s School Command in 1985 and was assigned in December 1985 to USS Lawrence (DD-4) where he served as Weapons Officer. In April, 1987, Lieutenant Commander Chace was assigned as the First Lieutenant in USS Nassau (LHA-4). He completed his tour in Nassau and was transferred to the Naval Post Graduated School, Monterey, California where he re- ceived a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs in June of 1990. Upon graduation from NPGS, Lieutenant Commander Chace was assigned to the Staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, at Norfolk, Virginia and he served as the Assistant Plans Officer in the Operations and Plans Directorate until October, 1992. Lieutenant Commander Chace attended the Prospective Executive Officer course at the Surface Warfare Officer ' s School Command in November, 1992 and reported to USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) as Executive Officer in January, 1993. Lieutenant Commander Chace ' s decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of third award, National Defense Ribbon, Meri- torious Unit Commendation, the Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon, four awards of Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. Katie, reside in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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FAREWELL LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MICHAEL A. DURNAN EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Durnan was born in Staten Island, New York on 24 July 1954. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathe- matics and was commissioned an Ensign in 1978. Lieutenant Commander Durnan ' s first as- signment was in USS PENSACOLA (LSD-38) where he served as Boat Division Officer, Gun- nery Officer, Assistant First Lieutenant and Boiler Officer. Lieutenant Commander Durnan was next assigned to the pre-commissioning crew in USS FLATLEY (FFG-21) where he served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer until December 1982. Ashore he was assigned as a Personnel Exchange Officer at ECOLE NAVALE, the French Naval Academy in Lanveoc, France. After completing his exchange tour, Lieutenant Com- mander Durnan returned to sea duty serving as Chief Engineer in USS COMTE DE GRASSE (DD-974) until January 1988 and then as Chief Engineer in USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-44) from pre-commissioning until December 1989. Following this sea tour, Lieutenant Com- mander Durnan was assigned to the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Management in June 1991. Following graduate school, Lieutenant Commander Durnan attended the Prospective Executive Officer School in New- port, Rhode Island. In November 1991 Lieutenant Commander Durnan relieved as Executive Officer in USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-44). Lieutenant Commander Durnan ' s decorations include: Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award; Navy Expeditionary Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon, three awards of the Sea Service De- ployment Ribbon and the Navy Overseas Service Ribbon.

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■ I mm MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER BERNARD L. HEFFERNAN JR. COMMAND MASTER CHIEF Machinists Mate Master Chief Bernard L. Heffernan Jr. was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on February 19, 1952. Upon graduation from Sheffield High School in Sheffield, Alabama he en- listed in the US Navy in June 1971. He completed Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Flor- ida and completed Machinists Mate A School at Great Lakes, Illinois in 1972. His first assign- ment was the Re-Commissioning Unit USS Nimitz (CVN-68), where until transfer in 1977 he served in M and A Divisions. His next assignment was USS Mississippi (CGN-40) where he served as Leading Petty Officer of A Division. In 1979 he became the first qualified Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist onboard. Following a two-year period in the Reserves and National Guard, Master Chief Heffernan re- entered naval service and reported to Sima Mayport in 1981. While at Sima he was selected as Sailor of the Year for 1982, and subsequently received honors as both Surflant and Cinclant Fleet Shore Sailor of the Year. In 1983 he transferred to USS Dahlgren (DDG-43) and was se- lected for Chief. He also graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education. While in Dahlgren he served as leading Chief Petty Officer of M Division and A Division Officer until his transfer to USS Harry E. Yarnell (CG-17) in 1987 where he served as LCPO of M Division and Ship ' s 3-M Coordinator. He then transferred to Navy Recruiting District Raleigh where he served as Recruiter-in-Charge in Shelby, North Carolina. In 1991 he was promoted to his present rate and was selected for the Command Master Chief Program. He reported aboard USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) in February 1992 and is pres- ently serving as the Ship ' s Third Command Master Chief since commissioning. Master Chief Heffernan ' s awards included the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achieve- ment Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal (two awards), Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon (3 awards), Sea Service Ribbon (5 awards), Recruiting Service Ribbon, Rifle Expert Medal, Pistol Expert Medal, and Good Conduct Medal with four stars. Master Chief Heffernan and hi s wife Tonra, reside in Shelby, North Carolina. He has four children; Barbie, 20, Kellie, 18, Amie, 14, and Alastair, 11.