Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commandzng Ojfcer Born ln Savannah Ga and a graduate of Vlrgmla Military Institute Capt Thomas Parker was commissioned an Ensign ln January 1976 after complet1ngAvlat1on Officer Candidate School CAOCS1 m Pensacola, Fla After completmg VT-10 ln Pensacola he was then assigned to RVAW-120 ln Norfolk Va to fly the E-2C Hawkeye He was designated a Naval F hght Officer ln February 1977 He reported to VAW-123 m July 1977 and served ln both Maintenance and Operations Departments while deployed on board USS Saratoga CCV 601 After completmg a tour as an mstructor at RVAW-120 m Norfolk, he was assigned to the staff of Commander Crulser Destroyer Squadron 8 m Norfolk as AAW Officer and Force Tact1calAct1on Officer CTAO1 ln June 1983 taking part ln the liberation of Grenada and the capture of the Achllle Lauro hlj ackers In November 1985 Capt Parker reported to the staff of Commander Naval Alr Force Atlantic Fleet ln Norfolk as the Carrier Combat Informatlon Center CCDC1 training officer During tlus tour he earned a Master s Degree ln International Studies from Old Domlmon Unlverslty In August 1988 Capt Parker jolned the Flghtm' Bltm' Steelj aws of VAW 122 ln USS Forrestal CCV 591 serving as Admin, Operations and Maintenance officers In October 1990, he reported as Executive Officer to the Beat Aces of VAW 124 assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt CCVN 711, and took part ln Operation Desert Storm assuming dutles of Commanding Officer m April 1992 Selected for a Federal Executive Fellowship Capt. Parker was asslgned to the RAND Corporanon m Santa MODICZ, Cahf from July 1993 to August 1994 Capt Parker returned to Norfolk to serve as the Operations Officer on board USS America QCV 661 until October 1995 taklng part ln combat operations ln the Balkans He reported next to Washington, D C sevmg as the Tact1calA1rcraft Analyst ln the Secretary ofthe Navy s Office of Program Appraisal COPA1 unnl selected for major command Reporting to USS Belleau Wood fLHA 31 ln Saseabo, Japan, as Executive Officer ln 1998 he assumed command of Belleau Wood in April 1999 Belleau Wood was awarded the Marjorie Sterrntt Trophy as the best shlp ln the Pacific Fleet durmg hls tenure m command After successful completion ofthe Navy s largest and most successful hull swap to date Capt Parker assumed command of USS Essex fLHA 21 ln Sasebo, Japan, ln July 2000 Next assigned to United States Space Command CUSSPACECOM1 ln Colorado Springs Colo Capt Parker served as Delta Crew Command Dlrector asslgned to Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center CCMOC1 and as Vice Director for Plans CJSV1 at HQ USSPACECOM at Peterson AFB In Februarv 2003 Capt Parker reported to USS Kitty Hawk LCV 631, operating out of Yokosuka, Japan to assume duties as Commanding Officer, leadmg the Battle Cat throughout Operation Iraql Freedom Capt Parker has logged more than 3,500 hours and 650 arrested landings ln the E 2C Hawkeve Capt Parker's decoratlons mclude the Defense Superior Servlce Medal Leglon of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal ffour awards1, Str1kelFl1ghtA1r Medal ftwo awards1, Navy Commendation Medal ffive awards one with combat V 1, and various umt citations campaign medals and service ribbons

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