John Stennis (CVN 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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tl Master Chief Sheppard was born in Hamp- ton, Virginia where he graduated from Hampton High School in 1971. After high school, his naval indoctrination began while employed as a ma- chinist at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dock Company. He then attended Norfolk State College in 1973, majoring in Mechanical Engi- neering. In 1977, he obeyed his original calling and enlisted in the United States Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command in Or- lando, Florida. After graduating from basic training, he attended Basic Electronics and Elec- tricity Training, then on to Great Lakes, Illinois for Electronics Technician Phase A School. In 1978, he moved on to continue his training at Phase C School at Northwest, Virginia. He reported to his first permanent duty station. Naval Security Group Activity, Edzell Scotland in 1979. Reporting as a Third Class Petty Officer, he soon became a well-respected technician. In 1982, he transferred to the Ad- vanced Electronics ' C-7 School Detachment, San Diego, California as a student in the Navy ' s most elite electronics training curriculum. After successful completion of school, the Navy ' s needs sent him to Naval Security Group Activity, Adak, Alaska as a Quality Assurance Technician and Leading Petty Officer. His next tour of duty was aboard USS MARVIN SHIELDS (FF 1066) in 1985 where shortly after reporting aboard he was promoted . to Chief Petty Officer, thus transferring him to USS CALLAHAN (DDG 994) that same year. Aboard USS CALLAHAN he was part of the Com- bat Systems Department in charge of two vital electronics divisions as the Leading Chief Petty Officer. By 1987, he transferred to Naval Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California as the Technical Director and Leading Chief Petty Officer who was overall responsible for all maintenance of the air field ' s ground electronics, to include the Aircraft Carrier Landing System, Precision Approach Radar, Tactical Air Navigation, weather systems, receiver sites, and transmitter sites. Following his shore duty. Master Chief Sheppard reported onboard USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) in 1991 as Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer and Assistant Electronics Material Officer. During this tour he was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer. In 1994, he was accepted to the Navy ' s top senior leadership school, the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island where he graduated near the top of his class with academic honors. His follow on assignment lead to Fleet Training Center, San Diego, California. Duties during this tour included Director of Training Department ' s Leading Chief Petty Officer as well as Technical Director and Assistant Manager for the West Coast Hub Detachment for the Chief of Naval Education and Training ' s Electronic Schoolhouse Network where he supervised personnel and resources at seven Video Tele-training sites. After being selected for the Command Master Chief Program, he reported to HS-8 in August 1997 just prior to a World Cruise onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) as part of Carrier Air Wing NINE. In January 2000, he was selected to fill the position of Carrier Air Wing NINE Command Master Chief during the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) Carrier Air Wing NINE millennium cruise. Master Chief Sheppard ' s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (5 awards). Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, the United Nations Medal and numerous campaign, unit and service awards. Master Chief Sheppard married to the former Deborah Renee ' Spratley of Smithfield, Virginia in 1978 and they reside in San Diego, California. ETCMlAW SW) WMTER VSSffNE SHEPEARD COMMAND MASTER CHIEE ' Sj I K AIRWING9

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CAPT ROLLAND C. THOMPSON it DCAG Captain Thompson entered the Army in 1973 and earned his Army Avia- tor Wings at the age of 19. Serving as a helicopter Gun- ship pilot, Captain Thomp- son was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division un- til 1977. In 1978, he com- pleted a Bachelor of Sci- ence degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Univer- ty and began his naval career by entering Aviation jficer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida. Cap- in Thompson was commissioned an Ensign in Febru- y of 1979 and subsequently began his flight training. Upon completion of flight training at NAS ingsvilie, Texas, Captain Thompson was awarded his lings of gold in August of 1980. In the spring of 1981, liptain Thompson completed fleet replacement train- 1 ig with VA-122 and was assigned to the Warhawks ; VA-97. While assigned to VA-97 Captain Thompson iimpleted two cruises aboard USS Coral Sea. In 1984, Captain Thompson received orders as an instructor pilot with the fledgling F A-18 Fleet l2placement Squadron (FRS), VFA-125, located at NAS Lemoore, CA. Following a rewarding 3 year tour with e Rough Raiders of VFA-125, Captain Thompson was assigned as an F A-18 Weapons Training Officer with e Rock Rivers of VFA-161. In January of 1989, Captain Thompson reported as a Department head with the forward-deployed olden Dragons of VFA-192, based In Atsugi Japan. While assigned to the Golden Dragons , Captain hompson completed two deployments aboard USS Midway, including one combat cruise as part of Desert !iield Storm. . , , . Captain Thompson departed Japan in July of 1991 and reported to the staff of Commander, Naval Air l rce Pacific (CNAP) as the F A-18 Readiness Officer. After a brief year at CNAP, Captain Thompson reported i; an instructor and the Executive Officer of Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), where he served ictober 1993. Following his tour at TOPGUN, Captain Thompson joined the Warhawks of VFA-97 as Executive Ifficer. Captain Thompson subsequently assumed command of VFA-97 in October 1994 and led the ' ' Varhawks , to include one deployment aboard USS Kitty Hawk, until November 1995. In March of 1996, Captain Thompson assumed command of TOPGUN, a tour which required relocating lie Navy Fighter Weapons School to their current home of NAS Fallon, Nevada, and the ultimate integration r TOPGUN into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, where he served as the Director of Training (N7). Captain Thompson departed NSAWC in August of 1997, for the National War College (NWC) in Vashington, DC. Upon completion of NWC and awarding of a Master ' s Degree in National Security Studies in lay of 1998, Captain Thompson reported as Deputy Director of the CINC Liaison Division (N83) on the Chief ( ' Naval Operations staff. In the June of 1999, Captain Thompson reported to his current assignment as Deputy (smmander, Carrier Air Wing NINE. . i-rs j Amassing over 5500 military flight hours and 800 arrested landings. Captain Thompson has qualified s a pilot in the UH-IH, AH-IG, OH-58, A-4, A-7, F A-18, F-14 and F-16 aircraft. m ,i ] Captain Thompson ' s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Air Medal (3 Strike Flight Awards, 1 individual with V device). Navy Commendation Medal with V device (4 awards), jrmy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Battle Efficiency E Award, Army Good Conduct Meda , lavy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards). Armed Forces E?;P« l ' ' ? ' y j f . ' Uthwest Asia Service Medal (3 awards), Kuwait Liberation Medal along with numerous other unit an| service ' ' ' ' ' - AIRWING9 1 313

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