Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER CDR Sam J. Tangredi A nati e ol Redding. C ' onncclicut. C ' ummandcr Tangredi is married to Re . Deborah L. H. Mariya, a United Methodist Minister of the Iowa UMC conferenee. Lieutenant Com- mander Mariya is a U.S. Navy Chaplain and veteran of Oper- ation Desert Storm. Commander Tangredi graduated from the U.S. Naval Aeademv in the elass of 1978. He has served at sea as Main Propulsion Assistant in USS PAUL (FF-1080), Boilers Pro- pulsion Service OITiccr in USS RANGER (CV-61). Opera- tions OtTicer in USS BERKELEY (DDG-15). and Executive OtTicer in USS FORT MCHENRY (LSD-43). Commander Tangredi served ashore as a Defense Re- sources .Manager in the Program Budget Analysis Division of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was one of the first officers working on the Strategic Defense Ini- tiative (SDI). A fully qualified joint specialty officer, he has prepared briefings for many senior defense officials, includ- ing the President of the United States. Following study at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned the degree of Master of Arts (with distinction) in National Security .Affairs. Commander Tangredi was selected as a Ph.D. Candidate. He earned the degree of Doctor of Phi- losophy in International Relations from the University of Southern California. .Additionally. Commander Tangredi was a Federal Executive National Security Fellow of the Hoover Institution on War. Revolution and Peace at Stanford Uni- versity. He is the author of over fifty articles and book chap- ters on naval strategy and other national security issues, and has spoken to numerous academic and civic organizations. Commander Tangredi ' s last assignments was as Special As- sistant and speech writer to the Secretary of the Navy. He was a participant in developing the Department of the Navy ' s current Strategic vision. Forward ... from the Sea, and in fur- thering the Navy ' s emphasis on character, ethics and core values. 6 • Commanding Officer

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HARPERS FERRY ' S MISSION Designed to Iruiisporl aiul larul arn- pliihioiis assaull vchitlcs, laiulirig trait iiul Umlcd Stales Marine ( orps tr(H)ps ,iiul egiiipmenl aeriiss a potentialK hos- lik- shore, I ' SS HAKIM RS I I KKV is a ke L )inpi neiil nt I he amphibious loiLes whieh carr oiil the USS Navy ' s I orssaii! I lom the Sea strategy. As Mich, HAKIM KS I 1 KK is an integral member ol the Naval I xpedilionarv I nrces which niainlain American lor- sard presence around the world. Her ihility to conduct diverse, sustained imphibious warfare directly supports the rapid build-up of combat p4)wcr trotn the sea lor operations ashore in consonance with national interests. MAKIM:KS M;KK is the first of four new cargo variants to the LSI) 41 class ol amphibious assault ships whose pri- mary physical feature is her well deck. The well is Hooded, or ballasted, to launch and recov er landing cralt and as- sault vehicles through the stern gate, which can be hvdraulicallv raised and lowered l.nteiisivc cargo and rolling stock storage capacity is available in the extended vehicle storage area, which is connected to the flight deck and well deck bv vehicle ramps. In addition, HAKIM RS II KRV has a Might deck lor cargo or pervmnel transport and is ca- pable ol handling the largest militarv helicopters in use todav. HAKIM RS I I RRNs weapons suite consists ol twt) state-of-the-art (fWS (Close-in Weapons System) anti-ship missile defense gun mounts. She alst) carries six .50 caliber machine guns and two 25 MM chain guns to enhance her capability against last patrol boats and other surface craft. l.C.M allow HARPHRS FF.RRY to conduct high-speed, over-the-hori .on amphibious operations. Riding on a blanket ol air in speeds in excess of 30 knots, LC. ( have access to 70 ) of the world ' s beaches, as compared to the 17 ' Ht access alTorded conventional land- ing craft. Directly complementing one an(»ther. amp idi- bornc and sv; ;-ccd, ilcxibilitv and itidiicuvcrjbiiiiy HAKPi KS M KKV was designed to berth and feed 504 Marine Corps trtK)p , in addition to her o kn 350-man crew Support for the crew and cm- barked landing force includes a %hip ' » store, laundr . b.r ' p library television studio. ; messing facilities and v-wii . tunhcr stressing sell ul- filted with aii : sisc array of repair and machinery shops and medical and dental facilities Since commissioning in January. 1995. HARPERS FERRY has been conducting training in her diverse mis- sion areas HARPERS FERRY operates with style and professionalism, promot- ing the highc-st standards of operational readiness, personal growth and team- work Mission 5

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i: lX L 1 1 KOI I KIR l.( l)R Michael U. MiDtrmdll I iculciiatil ( odiriiaiidcr NKUwf (ii !!. c. Washington, was fxirn ai I «»n l-cwis, .: 1959 Mis parents arc Major William I VKi cr s (Ret.) ol MadiMMi. New York and Mar) I M f Rome, (ieorgia When Major MtDcrmoti rcii.v.. .. :)ic Army in 1969, his farnil) sellleci in lca%cnwonh Kansd% Lieutenant Commander McDcrmott graduated from the University of Kansas in I9K2 Me received his commission through the University of Kansas Naval Reserve OfTicer I raining Corps program. I ' pon u)mpleting initial Surface Warfare OfTiccr training in San Diego. California, he reported to USS SACRA- MFNTC) (AOF.-I). home ported in Bremenon, Washington serving as lirsl Division DfTicer. Second Division OfTiccf and Combat s stems officer from IX-ccmbcr IVK2 to May 1985. Aboard ' I ' SS S.ACRAMI N TO. l.ieu ' - •• ' •n- mander McDcrmott made two Western Pacific ! in deployments and qualified as a Surface War .r From June I9K5 to Julv 1987 he served in the rccommission- ing crew of USS MISSOURI (BB-63). home poncd in l ng Beach. California as Number Three Turret OfTicer After his first sea tour. Lieutenant Commander McDcr- mott reported to Navy Rcxruitmg District fX-nvcr. Colorado in November 1987 as an OITiccr Programs Rcxruiter. While there he was selected as Naval Rcxruiling District Denver 1989 Officer Recruiter of the ear Me then attended th e Sur- face VNartare OtTicer Schiwl Department Ficad course at Newport. Rhode Island in November 1989. Returning to sea duty in July 1990. Lieutenant Com- mander McDermoii reported to USS PLF.DCJE (MSO-492) in Seattle. Washington as Chief Engineer Me then served as First Lieutenant in USS COMSTOCK (LSD-45). home ported in San Diego. California from March 1992 to Decem- ber 1993. While assigned to USS COMSTOCK he deployed to Somalia during Operation Continue Hope. He then reported to the staff of Commander Amphibious Group Three. San Diego. California as Flag Secretary and Av sistant Chief of StalT for Administration Lie.; ' - ' -n- mander McEX ' rmott attended the Surface N .: -t Schtx)! Prospective Excvutive OfTicer course in (. ' ... .. . •- ' 5 en route to his assignment as Executive OfTiccr. USS HARP- ERS FERR (LSD-49). home ported in San Dicgo In addition to various sen ice and unit awards Lieutenant Commander McDcrmott has bc cn awarded the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gv ld Star and Navy Ma- rine Corps AchieNement Medal with two Gold Stars. Me is married to Ann J. McDcrmott of Gcncsco. Ne ork They have two daughters. Erin and Megan and reside in San Diego. California. Executive OfTicer •