Halyburton (FFG 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDR Larson SHOWS HIS NEW- FOUND FRIEND, RAFAEL, AROUND HALYBURTON in naples, thereturned out to be no truth to the rumor that Rafael was aboard as the prospective CO. CDR Larson assumed command in Oct of 1998. He arrived just after HALYBURTON had STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE ENGINEERING CERTIFICA- TIONS NECESSARY FOR DEPLOYMENT. JUST MONTHS LATER. HALYBURTON WAS RECEIVING HIGH PRAISE FROM THEATER COMMANDERS FOR HER OUSTANDING TURN-AROUND AND PERFORMANCE DURING HER SUC- CESSFUL DEPLOYMENT.

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Commanding Officer CDR William F. Larson USS HALYBURTON FFG-40 Commander Larson was born on December 18, 1958 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Duke University in May 1980 with a B.S.in Mechanical Engineering, and received his commission through the Naval ROTC program. He received a Masters Degree from the Naval War College in 1994. Following commis- sioning CDR Larson reported to USS PORTLAND (LSD-37), where he served as Electronics Material Officer and Navigator. In June 1 983 he was assigned to USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) as Combat Information Cen- ter Officer, and deployed in support of the Multinational Force in Beirut, Leba- non. A tour at the Fleet Combat Di- rection System Support Activity, Dam Neck followed, where he participated in the development of the New Threat Upgrade Combat Direction System. Upon graduating from the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course in September 1987, CDR Larson reported to USS UNDERWOOD (FFG-36) as Combat Systems Officer. In UNDERWOOD he deployed with NATO ' s Standing Naval Force Atlantic and to the Arabian Gulf. His next assignment was with Destroyer Squadron TWENTY serving as Operations Officer. DESRON TWENTY deployed to the Mediterranean in March 1 990 and partici- pated in operation Desert Shield, conducting Maritime Interception Operations in the Red Sea. CDR Larson assumed command of USS PEGASUS (PHM-1 ) in October 1 991 . Dur- ing his tour PEGASUS conducted law enforcement and opposition force operations, and was awarded the Battle Efficiency E and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. On leaving PEGASUS in July 1 993, he attended the Naval War College in Newport Rl. Commander Larson was next assigned on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic initially as Section Head for Command and Control Warfare, and subsequently as Branch Head for Nuclear and Proliferation Policy. CDR Larson assumed command of USS HALYBURTON October 21 , 1 998. Commander Larson ' s personal awards include the Defense Mentonous Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Seivice Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and the Navy Achieve- ment Medal with two gold stars in addition to various service medals and unit awards. Commander Larson is married to the former Hanora M. Sladek of Orange Park, FL and resides with their two children in Va Bch, VA.

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Executive Officer LCDR Gregory S. Higgins USS HALYBURTON FFG-40 «% LCDR Higgins, born in Union, New Jersey, attended Villanova University, lo- cated in Villanova Pennsylvania. He re- ceived a BE in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned through the NROTC program in May 1985. Fol- lowing commissioning he completed Basis Surface Warfare Officers school. LCDR Higgins first tour was on board USS EXPLOIT (MSO 440), stationed in Newport Rhode Island, where he served as Supply officer. While there he quali- fied a variety of watch positions, includ- ing Officer of the Deck underway, Engi- neering Officer of the watch (EOOW), and qualified as a Surface Warfare Of- ficer. In February 1988 he transferred to USS CAPODANNO (FF 1093), also homeported in Newport, where he served as Navigator and Administration officer. LCDR Higgins started his first shore tour in September 1989, reporting to Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC where he served as Executive assistant to the Deputy Commander NAVSEA (Surface Combatants). Upon completion of department head school in March 1991 , LCDR Higgins reported to USS McCLUSKY (FFG 41), forward deployed to Yokosuka Japan, as Combat Systems Officer. During this tour McCLUSKY deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of operation Desert Storm. In October 1992 he transferred to USS VIR- GINIA (CGN 38), homeported in Norfolk Virginia. While on VIRGINIA he sewed as Combat Systems Officer and Qualified for Command at Sea. Upon completion of his department head tours LCDR Higgins attended Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey California, from June 1994 to May 1996. While there he earned a Masters degree in Systems Technologies, specializing in Space operations. In June 1996 LCDR Higgins reported to Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group One in San Diego, California, as Communications officer for the CONSTEL- LATION Battle Group. Upon completion of his tour he attended PXO school in Newport Rhode Island. LCDR Higgins is married to Stephanie Crawford of Macomb IL. Personal awards include the Navy Commendation medal, with four gold stars and the Navy Achievement medal, also with four gold stars.