Harry Hill (DD 986) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMAND AT SEA Only a seaman realizes to what extent an entire ship reflects the per- sonality and ability of one individual, her Commanding Officer. To a landsman this IS not understandable and at times, it is even difficult for us to compre- hend, but it IS so! A ship at sea is a distinct world in herself and in consideration of the protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power, responsibility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command. In each ship there is one man who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one alone who is ultimately responsi- ble for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Officer. He is the ship. This is the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instance during his tour as commanding officer that he can escape the grasp of command responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small; nevertheless, command is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders. It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time-honored title of the seagoing world . . . CAPTAIN. '

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COMMANDING OFFICER CDR JAMES CUTLER DAWSON, JR Commander JAMES CUTLER DAWSON was born in Richmond, Va. on January 27, 1948. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1970 and received his MS in Financial Management in 1978 from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Ca. Commander Dawson is a 1986 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. His first sea tour was as Electronics Material Officer and Combat Information Center Officer aboard USS SAMPLE (FF 1048). Following a tour as Weapons Officer aboard USS ALBERT DAVID (FF 1050), Commander Dawson served as Commanding Officer of USS MO- LALA (ATF 106). After Naval Post Graduate School, he served as the Flag Secretary on the Staff of Commander. Cruiser-Destroyer Group THREE. Commander Dawson served as commanding officer of the USS BRONSTEIN from December 1 980 to February 1 983. He subsequently served ashore in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Surface Warfare (OP 30). He is designat- ed as a proven subspecialist in Financial Management. Commander Dawson ' s awards include the Meritori- ous Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal. Navy Achievement Medal (with Combat V), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Combat Ac- tion Ribbon. Commander Dawson is married to Deborah Loudon of Seattle. Wa. They reside in Coronado, Ca.. with their three children, Daryl Anne, James Cutler III, and Devon Lee.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER 1 LCDR DAVID M. RYAN LCDR DAVID M. RYAN was born in Wilmington, Del- aware. After attending public schools in Arlington, VA, he graduated from Shippensburg State College in Shippensburg, PA, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He attended Officer Candi- date School and was commissioned an Ensign, USN, in June, 1975. His first tour was aboard USS CLAUDE V. RICK- ETTS (DDG 5) on the Staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-TWO. His initial sea duty was aboard USS LAWRENCE (DDG 4) in Norfolk, VA as Gun- nery Officer and ASW Officer. Subsequent sea tours in- cluded Weapons Officer aboard USS AYLWIN (FF 1081), followed by Chief Engineer Officer aboard USS SPAR- TANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192) in Norfolk, VA. Upon completion of his Department Head tours he was as- signed to Naval Military Personnel Command (NMPC-4) as a Surface Officer Detailer. From July 1985 to July 1 987 he served as Naval Aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He has made deployments to the Middle East, Northern Europe and to the Atlantic Ocean three times. He has been a member of the Pacific Fleet ASW Squadron where continuing Research and Development tactics and special equipments are tested and evaluated. LCDR Ryan is a subspecialist in Personnel Manage- ment. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. LCDR Ryan is married to the former Bette Lorraine Lofstead of Fairmount, West Virginia. They reside in San Diego, CA with their son Bryan Matthew.