John F Kennedy (CV 67) - Naval Cruise Book

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RADM Robert C. Williamson

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CD JFKBATGRU Following graduation froru the Naval Academy in 1907 Bear Admiral Williamson was designated a Naval Aviator. lle deployed twice to the Western Pacific on board USS AMERICA jCV 66j and USS CDNSTELLATIUN jCV 641 with Flghter Squadron 92, flying over 200 combat missions. lle then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School where he was awarded the Navy League Award as Dutstanding Student. lle was assigned as Project Test Pilot with the Flying 0ualities and Performance Branch, Flight Test Division, Naval Air Test Center until reporting as a flight instructor at the Staff of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1973. Alter graduating with distinction front the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College, be joined Fighter Squadron 103 for two extended deployments to the Mediterranean Sea on board the USS SABATDGA jCV ti0j. He assumed duties as t.he Commander ol Fighter Squadron 101 on USS MIDWAY jCV alll. Following nuclear power training, Bear Admiral Williamson was Executive Dfiicer on USS CABL VlNSON tCVN 70l. He commanded Third Fleet flagship USS CORONADO tAFC llj during her deployment as Middle Fast flagship, participating in joint, allied and combat operations in the Arabian Gulf. ln 1989 he assumed command of USS NlMlTZ tCVN 68l. During 0peration Desert Storm, NlllllTZ provided air support to allied forces during the early hours of a fragile cease iirc by flying combat air patrol missions over lraq, and remained on station to provide additional support for the U.S. troop withdrawal and the Kurdish refugee evacuation. Bear Admiral Williamson has served as Director, Carrier and Air Station Programs on the 0PNAV staff, as Deputy Director for Dperations, National lllilitary Command Center on the Joint Staff, and prior to assuming command of Carrier Group Two, as Deputy Conunander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command during Dperation Vigilant Sentinel. Bear Admiral Williamson has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours and 806 carrier landings. His personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion ol Merit tthree awardsl, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike! Flight Air bledal ttwclvc awardsl, Navy Comnrendation Medal with Combat VU the Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross, Southwest Asia Medal with Bronze Star, various unit campaign and service awards. Bear Admiral Williamson and his wife .lo reside in Arlington, Virginia with their children, lllat.thew and Brook. we-Q 4 x 18 CUC

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Cllitil lil Sltlll Captain .John M. Langknecht was born in Kansas City, MO. A graduate of Beloit College in Wisconsin, he received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport. Rhode Island in April 1969. Following his initial sea assignment on USS PRAIRIE tAD 151. he served briefly on USS CARONADE QLFR ll during the Vietnam conflict. Subsequently he was ordered to USS ROBERT L. WILSON tDD 8471 serving as Antisubmarine Warfare Officer and then Weapons Officer during operations with the SECOND and SIXTH Fleets. In September 1972 Lieutenant Langknecht was ordered to duty as commissioning ASW Officer on USS CALIFORNIA TCGN 361. Following this tour he attended Naval Destroyer School in Newport, Rhode Island and was assigned as Weapons Officer on USS RARNEY tDDG Ol upon graduation. This assignment included Rattle Group operations in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean. He was detached from USS RARNEY in .luly 1977 to attend the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College, graduating with highest distinction in June 1978. He was then assigned as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In December 1980, Commander Langknecht was ordered to USS SPRUANCE TDD 9631 as Executive Officer. During this assignment he participated in operations in the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Inunediately following this tour in January 1981 hc reported to Destroyer Squadron TWENTY TWO as Chief Staff Officer. The squadron operated as a unit of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Rattle Group in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the 1983 crisis in l.ebanon. ln June 1985 Commander Langknecht assumed command of USS AURREY FITCH tFFG 341. During his two years in command, the ship conducted operations in the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, Pacific and Atlantic. Completing his tour in comm nd, Captain Langknecht was assigned as Assistant Chief ef Staff for Operations and Plans for Commander, Cruiser a Destroyer Group EIGIIT. This assignment included Rattle Force SXTII Fleet deployments with the USS SARATOGA and USS 'THEODORE ROOSEVELT Rattle Groups. -n August 1989, Captain Langknecht was ordered to Rath, ME as prospective Commanding Officer, in conjunction with construction and fitting out of USS GETTYSDURG ICG 641. Upon the ship's commissioning in June 1991, Captain Langknecht assumed command of GETTYSRURG. guiding it through its initial shakedown and deployment with the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Datte Group in the Mediterranean. While under his command, GETTYSDURG served as Rattle Group Anti-air Warfare Commander and participated in Operation Provide Promise and numerous NATO and Joint exercises. Under his command, GETTYSRURG won the coveted Rattle and numerous community service awards. Jpon relinquishing connnand of GETTYSDURG in May 1993, Captain Langknecht was reassigned to the National War College in Washington, DC where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy. Ile was then ordered to duty with the Rallistic Missile Defense Organization, serving as Director, .loint Force and subsequently as Chief of Staff. In April 1997, Captain Langknecht assumed duties as Chief of Staff for Commander, Carrier Group TWO and the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Rattle Group. Captain Langknechts personal decorations include the Joint Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Meda ITIIIRD Awardi. the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navv and Marine Corps Achievement Medal tSECOND awardl. 'S we-Q 4 I 0 COC