John F Kennedy (CV 67) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER CAPTAIN GARYF, WHEATLEY Captain Gary F. Wheatlcy is a 1959 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He completed flight training in April 1961 — , reported to VA-172 at Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida where he served until January 1965. During this tour, he made two deployments to the Mediterranean aboard USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, flying the A-4 Skyhawk. Captain Wheatley ' s next assignment was to Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland, where he served as a P v|| test pilot and as an instructor at U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. At the completion of this tour in Feburary 1968, he transition to the A-6 Intruder in VA-128 at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. He then deployed to Southeast Asia with VA- 145 aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65). In July 1969 he returned to VA-128 as Air Crew Training OfHcer. In October 1970 he returned to sea with VA-115 and made another deployment to Southeast Asia aboard USS MIDWAY (CVA-4 1), serwiag as squadron Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer. From July 1972 to August 1973, Captain Wheatley attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, concurrently earning his Masters of Science degree from George Washington University. He then reported to the staff of Commander Medium Attack Wing ONE at the Naval Air Station, Oceana, Virginia, where he served as Readiness Officer. He reported as Executive Officer of VA-34 in July 1974 and assumed command of that in October 1975. He commanded Carrier Air Wing ONE from September 1977 to December 1978. In January 1979, Captain Wheatley reported to the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, DC where he served as Director, Project Support Division. He assumed command of USS SHREVEPORT (LPD- 12) in August 1980. Following that tour, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness on Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff. In September 1982 he was reassigned to Harvard University where he attended the Advanced Management Program prior to reporting aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). Captain Wheatley fiew 90 comabat missions in Vietnam and has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and seven Air Medals. He has logged over 5000 fiight hours and has made more than 1000 carrier arrested landings. He has published articles in Approach , Naval Aviation News and All hands magazines and participated in the writing of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Test Manual. Captain Wheatley is married to the former Maureen Mitchell of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. They have three children: Gary, Guy, and GSMiSmd currently reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER CAPTAIN JOHN A, PIENO Captain John A. Pieno is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he attended West Jefferson High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in management from South East Louisiana University. Captain Pieno was commissioned in Pensaco- la, Florida through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program in October 1962 and subsequently earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in Corpus Christi, Texas in April 1963. His initial squadron tour was with VR-7 where he accumulated 1,500 hours as a navigator in the C-130 aircraft flying logistic support missions throughout the world. In October 1965 he reported to VAH-123 in Whidbey Island, Washington, where he received training as a bombardier navigator in the A3D Skywarrior aircraft. Reporting to VAH-10 in April 1966 he deployed in VSS AMERICA to the Western Pacific and the Mediterranean. From June 1968 to June 1970 Captain Pieno was assigned to the Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Florida where he served as Class Officer and Battalion OfHcer-in-Charge. In July 1970 he transferred to VA-42 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, where he transitioned to the A-6A Intruder aircraft and made both Mediterranean and Western Pacific deployments in VSS SARATOGA with VA-75. While in VA-75 he served as Operations, Safety and Administrative Officer. Captain Pieno next attended the Armed Forces Staff College and served on the Staff of Medium Attack Wing One as Weapons and Tactical Officer and also saw instructor duty with VA-42. He joined VA-176 in September 1975 serving as Maintenance and Operations Officer deploying in USS AMERICA to the Mediterranean and South America. In June 1978 he reported to Attack Squadron Thirty-Five as Executive Officer while the squadron was deployed in USS S ' lMITZ. As Commanding Officer he deployed to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and North Atlantic in VSS S ' lMITZ. including the first operational deploy- ment of the A6E TRAM weapons system. He next served as Special Assistant for Executive Personnel to the Secretary of the Navy during the transition period. He assumed command of the A6 replacement training squadron. VA-42, in April 1981 and served in that capacity until July 1982. Subsequent to reporting aboard VSS JOHN F. KENNEDY as Executive Officer, he attended Surface Warfare Officer PCO School in Newpor Sbode Island. Captain Pieno ' s awa tion Medal, Navy Achi hours and made over 1 udc the Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commenda- ent Medal and numerous other unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 5,000 flight carrier arrested landings.