John Stennis (CVN 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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ITCS(SW) DAVID J. PRASER COMMAND MASTER CHIEP, CCG7 V,, Senior Chief David J. Fraseris the Command Senior Chief for Com- manderCarrierGroup SEVEN embarked in USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74); Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. He assumed this position in January 199 ' Senior Chief Eraser was born and raised in Meridei Connecticut. Upon graduating from Cheshire High School, I- enlisted in the United States Navy. He reported to Recrt Training Command, Great Lakes for recruit training wji subsequent training at the Radioman A school, Nav Training Center, Bainbridge, MD. His first permanent du station was the USS HARRY E. YARNELL (DLG CG-17). h served as a communications center operator and in Man 1975 he completed the Teletype C school in Norfolk, upc completion he continued with his training he qualified . Radio Watch Supervisor. During his tour he completed tv Mediterranean deployments and numerous Caribbean erations. In August 1977, he was assigned to the Ba; Communications Terminal, NAS Brunswick. During his ; months tour at NAS Brunswick, he quickly qualified ai assumed the responsibilities as Message Center Supervisor. He then transferred to S EXPLOIT (MSO-440), in Portland as a newly promoted Second Class Petty Officer.. He immediately assumed the duties as OCOl Work Cenj Suoe fsor filling a vacancy created by the loss of EXPLOIT ' S RMC. Without prior experience, he proved himself a capa ma ' a a ' s EXP O T wa overhaul. The winter of 1981 found Senior Chief Eraser assigned to the Na| communications S atio , Kefiavik. , First Class and where he immediately assumed the duties as the Communications Center Leading Petty Officer. He furti St nguishL hS with the flawless installation and transition of two DCT-9000 TODIN Termma s C technfcians and instituting a highly effective training plan thus ensuring minimal °P ' - t ' °; Pjl ele? 1983 Senior Chief Eraser reported to Naval Submarine Support Facility, New London, assigned to the CRYPTO and Teiet Rep f mty o Submarine Intermediate Maintenance Activity. In the Summer of 1985 he was promo e Chief Radioman and shortly thereafter received orders to USS STUMP (DD-978), homeported in Norfolk. Upon complet of a four year tour, including deployments to the Mediterranean and South America Western AfrK:a he reported to N Education and Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island as an instructor at he Communications Schodn 1990 promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer and was assigned to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Stat Newport, where he served as the CMS Training Team Leader for the Northeast Region rr mnuh r In November 1993 he was assigned as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander N val Coniputer , Telecommunications Station. After a highly successful tour in Newport, he received orders t Umted !, ' , command, Omaha as a Communications Systems Manager in the Command, Control Communcat ns,C Intelligence Directorate (J6). Working as a Wide Area Network and Defense Message System DMS) P ram admm his fo ard looking efforts postured the command to take full advantage of these new capabilities. O tober f f J Chief Eraser was assigned to the Staff, Commander Carrier Group SEVEN as the Assistant Communications Officer j subsequent chosen as the Senior Enlisted Advisor. Embarked in USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74), Senior Chief Frj has met the challenges of an aggressive IT-21 installation, a highly successful Inter-Deployment Training Cycle and g the first totally IT-21 capable Battlegroup through the Millennium 2000 Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deploynie Senior Chief Eraser ' s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Mar Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three a a s) Defense Meritorious U Commendation, Meritorious Unit commendation (four awards). Battle Efficiency (two awards , Good Conduct Medal (se awards), National Defense Service medal (two awards). Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (two awards), Humanitar Service Medal, Sea Service deployment (three awards). Overseas Service, and Coast Guard Special Operations. 18 COMCARGRU7

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BATTUt LsKLJUl- ' I CAPT DAN L THIGPEN CHIEF OF STAFF, COMCARGRU 7 ' J S WSWWK ' Captain Thigpen is the Chief of Staff, Carrier Group SEVEN. He assumed this role in July 1999. A native of South Texas, he attended Hariingen High School before entering the U.S. Naval Academy. Fol- lowing commissioning in 1973, he re- sived nuclear power training at Mare Island, Cali- )rnia; and Idaho Falls, Idaho. Reporting to his first permanent assignment board USS FLASHER (SSN 613), home ported in earl Harbor, Hawaii in October 1974, he served in variety of junior officer billets and participated in r ie ship ' s refueling overhaul at Mare Island Naval hipyard, WESTPAC operations onboard USS UFFER (SSN 652), and two post overhaul Western acific operations on FLASHER. Captain Thigpen next reported to the NROTC nit at Texas A M University in June 1978 as the avigation Operations instructor where he also 2rved as a Company Outfit Advisor. He detached om the unit in June 1980, but remained at Texas A M to complete a Master of Science Degree in idustrial Engineering. Following graduation in December 1980, Captain Thigpen reported to USS UARDFISH (SSN 612) where he served as the Engineer Officer and participated in Northern Pacific and ' estern Pacific deployments. ! From 1983 to 1985, Captain Thigpen served as the Senior Evaluation Officer for the Nuclear ■opulsion Training Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho. He then reported to the pre-commissioning unit for USS ENNESSEE (SSBN 734) as the Executive Officer. He left TENNESSEE in April 1989, after participating the first submerged launch of the Trident II (D-5) missile. Captain Thigpen commanded USS PASADENA (SSN 752) from 1989 to 1992. Following completion a Post Shakedown Availability in Groton, Connecticut, PASADENA transferred to the Pacific Fleet and ibsequently conducted the first Western Pacific deployment of an Improved 688 submarine. After a brief stint as a Deputy Commander at Submarine Squadron THREE, Captain Thigpen served the Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness and Training for Carrier Group THREE and the LINCOLN Battle |-oup Command and Control Warfare Commander (C2WC). The LINCOLN Battle Group deployed in June 93 and operated in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean near Somalia in support of two United Nations :)erations. Captain Thigpen next reported to Headquarters, U. S. Pacific Command in June 1994 as the Chief, juise Missile Support Activity distributing thousands of Tomahawk Land Attack Missile missions in iipport of the U. S. Central and Pacific Commands. His most recent tour was as Commanding Officer, . S ALASKA SSBN 732 (Blue) from December 1997 to May 1999. During that tour, he participated in o strategic deterrent patrols. Captain Thigpen has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the ' Britorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and various ftit and service awards. He is married to the former Elizabeth (BJ) Correll of Jerome, Idaho. They have two sons. Joshua 53 Senior at the University of Hawaii and Jared is a Freshman at Rice University. A COMCARGRU 7 | 17

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CAPT : S. NEEDLER t CAPT ! PAUL K. SUSALLA at . - CDR i CDR I RUFUS S. ABE RNETHY |j}iANETTE M. DERENZI CDR RICHARD P. HAJEK CDR LCDR |U£XANDERP.BinTERFIELD |, WILLIAM T. ALEX LCDR V LCDR TIMOTHY L. JACOBY £ DAVID S. JOBB LCDR V LCDR iOMAS W. JOHNSON JOEL D. pNNEDY LCDR ife JEFFREY D. KORTZ ■•M LCDR PHELPS fc LCDR V LCDR lEDERICKN.TEUSCHER i- JOHN CASTERS i LCDR £, THOMAS L. JONES V LCDR eROBERT C. MORALES W LT MARCELINO C. BALTERO ■v LT v LT iy[)ANIEL B. COPELAND | JOHNB.DOWNES s LT v LT £.LAWRENCE G GETZ £ DUANE E. LAMBERT COMCARGRU7 19