John Stennis (CVN 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPT TED N. BRANCH EXECUTIVE OPnCER Captain Ted N. Branch, a na- tive of Long Beach, l ississippi, gradu- ated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979. lowing a brief period of duty at the Navy Mili- y Personnel Command, he reported to isacola, Florida for flight training in October 79 and after completing jet training, received Wings of Gold in August 1981. Selected for Light Attack, Captain Branch lorted to VA-174 for replacement pilot training :he A-7E Corsair. He joined the VALIONS of -15 in June 1982 as they departed on the first :hree cruises during his initial squadron tour, his second cruise with the VALIONS, Captain Branch logged combat time over Granada and Lebanon. -—--.. Captain Branch returned the HELLRAZORS of VA-174 in June 1985 as an Instructor Pilot, Weapons Train- K ' ' ing Officer, and Weapons Training Phase Head. Captain Branch left VA-174 in Novem- hi ber 1987 and reported aboard USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) as Assistant Navigator. While in FORRESTAL, he qualified as Officer of the Deck and Command Duty Officer both inport and Jerway. Captain Branch left FORRESTAL in December 1989 during the second cruise of his tour and lorted to VA-122 at NAS Lemoore, California for refresher training in the A-7. After completing the G, he returned to NAS Cecil Field and joined the BULLS of VA-37 for his department head tour, ille there, he served as Administrative and Maintenance Officer and he transitioned with the jadron to the FA- 18 Hornet. After screening for command. Captain Branch left VFA-37 in August 1991 and entered the lege of Naval Command and Staff at Newport, Rhode Island. He earned a Master ' s Degree at the ir College and returned to Cecil Field in August of 1992 attached to VFA-106. Before starting his resher training, he attended Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. Captain Branch reported as Executive Officer of VFA-15 in October 1993 and assumed com- nd in January 1995. Under his command, the VALIONS completed work-ups and the JTG 95-2 Dioyment which included operations in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and combat in TO Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following his command tour in May of B6, Captain Branch reported to the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (J6) bctorate of the Joint Staff in Washington. While attached to the Joint Staff, he was selected for dear Power training which he completed in July of 1999. i Captain Branch ' s decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service fdal. Strike Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V , Navy Achievement dal, and various unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 2800 flight hours and 600 tested landings. Captain Branch is married and has two children. USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74) m 2 P! A Ml

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.r 1 9 Ki p CAPT RICHARD R GALLAGHER )MMANDING OPHCER Captain Richard K. Gallagher was born in Traverse City, Michigan and attended the U.S. Naval Academy graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in June 1976. He re- ceived his commission upon gradua- tion and was ordered to flight training as a pilot, receiving designation as a Naval aviator at NAS Chase Field, Beeville, TX, in Sep- tember 1977. His first assignment was to Fighter Squadron 171 at NAS Oceana, VA, undergoing F 4 initial training. Upon completion, he was as- signed to Fighter Squadron 103 where he de- ployed twice on USS SARATOGA (CV 60), flying both the F-4J and F-4S. In October 1981, Captain Gallagher re- ported to Fighter Squadron 101 at NAS Oceanaj t for pilot transition in the F-14, remaining as an instructor. While there, he attended TOPGUN as student. Following this shore duty tour. Captain Gallagher reported to TT. ' ferjrr ' - Fighter Squadron 143 in i July 1984 where he served as Operations Officer on deployment to the Mediter- ' ranean Sea, aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). in k ' Next, captain Gallagher reported to Naval Strike Warfare Center NAS Fallon NV,m | October 1987, where his duties included Operations Officer, flying the F A-18 and F-14A B. He then received orders to Fighter Squadron 101 for F-14B transition training. in February 1990, Captain Gallagher reported aboard Fighter Squadron 142 as Executive Of ficer. He then commanded VF-142 from 1991-1992 and made two deployments aboard USS hI LTcomm and e d the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) from September 1993 twc December 1994 where he was the last Echelon II Commander of TOPGUN. There he flew the F-161 and F-14 and shepherded through the Strike Fighter Weapons Tactics (f WJ) P ' ' fg ' ' I -, ' ' nuclear power training in January 1995 and was the Executive Officer of USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER from September 1996 to October 1997. Captain Gallagher then commanded USS INCHON (MCS 12), the world s only Minecountermeasures command and support ship, from January 1998 to June 1999- After win nm the Battle E , he deployed to the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas in Support of OPERATION SHI ING HOPE and the Kosovar Relief Effort. He detached on station in the Adriatic Sea enroute to US. JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74). . ■ r, ■.. Captain Gallagher has logged over 4,000 flight hours and 700 carrier arrestments during his career. He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and has a Masters degree ir Public Administration from George Washington University. Captain Gallagher ' s awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards). Meritorious Service Medal (two awards). Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and various service decorations Captain Gallagher is married to the former Roslyn Thompson of Cheshire, England. They ha | one daughter, Dawn. l6 § USS JOHN C STENNIS (CVN-74)

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k MMCM (SS) BRET DRUESNE CXDMMAND MASTER CHIEP Master Chief (SS) Bret Druesne was born and raised in San Mateo, California. After graduatinc from Junipero Serra Higin School in 1976. He enlisted in the Navy as a volunteer for the SUBFARER Program. He reported to Recruit Trail ing Command, San Diego for recruit training witi subsequent training at the Basic Enlisted Subma rine School in New London, Connecticut. He reported to his first permanent duty sta- tion, USS ROBERT E. LEE (SSBN-601B) in 1977. Having completed his initial submarine qualifica- tion, he served as Leading Seaman for one year In November of 1979, he completed Torpedoman ' s Mate A school in Orlando, Florid and was assiqned to the USS FLASHER (SSN-613), homeported in San Diego, California. During hi! 59 mo ' nth tour on USS FLASHER, he completed two Western Pacific deployments four s ments and oreparations for a re-fueling overhaul. His tour of duty aboard USS FLASHER culniinate Ths aTsfgnmeTas°Torpedo Division leading Petty Officer (LPO). .j l dutv brouQht him aboard USS PERMIT (SSN-594 as a newly promoted First Class Petty Officer. fmmediateTy assuming the duties as Torpedo Division LPO, he established the Weapons Departmei and oreoared the ship for battery of weapons inspections producing outstanding results, and P P f 3 33 , to Chief Torpedoman and received orders to Sub- marine Squadron T REE. upon completion of a two year tour at SUBRON 3, he again reported to Rec uft Training command, San Diego, this time as a Recruit Company Commander. In the spring 1991 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Torpedoman, terminated shore duty, and was ordered to Pearl Harbor and the USS OLYMPIA (SSN-717). Following a two year tour as Weapons Department LCPO aboard USS OLYMPIA, MMCM (SS) Druesne became Chief of the Boat (COB) aboard USS BREMERTON (SSN-698) in 1994. During his tour as COB aboard USS BREMERTON, he was promoted to the rank of er Chief Torpedoman, early 1997 Master Chief Druesne received orders to Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility (NAVIMFAC), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as Command Master Chief. During his tour, the Navy merged : NAVIMFAC and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard into Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, the CMC for 700 Sailors and 3300 civilian employees looq ;,«; Master Chief Druesne reported aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) in June of 1999 as the ship ' s third Command Master Chief. ., , , ,..,orHc m va MMCM (SS) Druesne has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards). Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards). Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Meda (three awards). Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Award (five awards). Navy Expeditionar Medal National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (four awards). iS t rs USS JOHN C STENNIS lCVN-74)