Hopper (DDG 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer USS Hopper Dec 98 - July 2000 Commander John W. Peterson was born in New Brunswick. New Jersey on December 1, 1945. He joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. Upon graduation in 1980 he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Following professional schools, his division officer tours were in the tank landing ship BRISTOL COUNTY (LST 1198) where he served as Combat Information Center Officer. Personnel Officer and Navigator and in the guided missile cruiser ENGLAND (CG 22) where he was the Communications Officer. As a department head he served as Combat Systems Officer in the guided missile frigate GARY (FFG 51) and later as Combat Systems Officer in the guided missile destroyer CALAGHAN pDG 994). Subsequently he com- manded the patrol combatant missile (hvdrofoil) HERCULES (PHM 2). Ashore he served as a Weapons and Navigation Instructor and Fresh- man Class Advisor at the NROTC Unit at Northwestern University and later headed the Surface Lieutenant Commander Assignment Branch at the Navys Personnel Bureau. A Joint Specialty Officer, he served as the 1st Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Operations (Com- bating Terrorism) on the Joint Staff in Washington D.C. Commander Peterson assumed command of the guided missile de- stroyer HOPPER PDG 70) mid-way through her 1st deployment. Re- cently selected for promotion to captain, he is deployed in command of HOPPER in this her 2nd deployment to the Arabian Gulf. In 1996 he earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, at the Na- tional Defense University. Commander Petersons decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, three Meritorius Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as various campaign and service decorations. Commander Peterson is married to Wendy A. Olson of Lisle. Illinois. They reside on Oahu with their two daughters. Kristin and Carrie. 13

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Muscat, Oman .,.. ..

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Commanding Officer USS Hopper July 2000 Commander John J. Sorce Commander John J. (Buz) Sorce is a native of Memphis. Tennessee. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Acad- emy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering, and was commissioned an ensign, in 1981. At sea he served division officer tours in USS BARNEY (DDG B) as Missiles Officer and Navigator, and in the commissioning crew of USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) as Fire Control Officer and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. His department head tour was in USS TICONDEROGA (CG 47) where he served as Weap- ons Control Officer, Combat Systems Officer and Operations Officer. He completed his Executive Officer tour in USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) and assumed command of USS HOPPER (DDG 70) in July 2000. Ashore Commander Sorce served as an action officer in the psychological warfare branch on the Joint Staff 0-3) and in the Navy staff (Nl) as the Surface Warfare Officer community man- ager. He is a graduate of the Naval War College where he earned a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal. Joint and Navy commendation Medals, as well as various campaign and service decorations. Commander Sorce is married to the former Patricia Kessler of Virginia Beach. Virginia. They have two children. John and Malia.