La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTIVE I wt ' w 1 1 w ¥■ i f y ' m Michael F. Cordasco, Jr. Lieutenant Commander SEPT 1985 - SEPT 1986 Lieutenant Commander Cordasco graduated from Texas ASfM University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation. Enter- ing the Mavy, he was assigned to USS COnSTCLLA- Tion (CV-64) as engineering officer. His next tour of duty was with the Pre-commissioning Unit of USS HERCULES (Pt1M-2) where he served as Engineering Officer. His subsequent tours of sea duty were on USS EPPERS (DD 719), USS CAROn (DD 970), USS PE- TERSOn (DD 969), USS PORT PISflER (LSD 40), USS SARATOGA (CV 60) and Destroyer Squadron Eight on Temporary Duty. Other assignments have included Assistant Di- rector of Gas Turbine School, Great Lakes, United na- tions Truce Supervision Organization as a Military Observer in Lebanon and Syria and the Maval Post- graduate School, Monterey, California, where he ear- ned a Masters Degree in National Security Affairs, with a focus on Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Among Lieutenant Commander Cordaso ' s per- sonal awards are the Mavy Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Service, Viet- namese Campaign, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, United Nations Observer, Sea Service, Battle E and National Defense ribbons. r r .

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EAST FORCE Harold J. Bernsen Rear Admiral July 1986 - Present Rear Admiral Harold J. Bernsen participated in the regular HROTC program while a student at Dart- mouth College. Upon his graduation in June 1958, he was commissioned an Ensign and reported to flight training. Designated a Naval Aviator in March 1960, he received orders to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. From October 1963 to October 1966, he was at- tached to the Defense Intelligence Agency in Wash- ington, D.C. Me was next ordered to duty as Aide and riag Lieutenant on the staff of Commander Carrier Division Seven in the Pacific. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in January 1967. Admiral Bernsen reported to Carrier Airborne Eariy Warning Squadron 120 (RVAW-120) in Norfolk, Virginia, In October 1968 for familiarization training in E-2B aircraft. He subsequently completed two Mediterrean deployments with VAW-126 aboard USS rORRESTAL (CVA-59). Following a tour under in- struction at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, during which time he was promoted to Com- mander, he returned to VAW-126 in February 1972 to become Executive Officer and subsequently Com- manding Officer. He reported to USS FORRESTAL in April 1974 as Navigator, completing his fourth and fiflh succes- sive deployments aboard CVA 59. From December 1975 to April 1977, he com- manded RVAW-120, the training squadron for the E- 2 Mawkeye aircraft. Following this command tour, he served for two years in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare (OP-05) in Wash- ington, D.C, the first year as the E-2 Aircraft Program Coordinator, the second as Head of the Program Management Section. On 1 July, 1979, he was pro- moted to Captain. Having assumed command of USS LA SALLE (AGr-3) in March 1980, he served with her in the Ara- bian Gulf during the hostage crisis in Iran and the ini- tiation of the Iran Iraq War. From March 1982 until the spring of 1983, Admiral Bernsen was assigned as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff to the Su- preme Allied Commande r Atlantic in Norfolk, Virgin- ia. In June 1983 he assumed command of the Navy ' s training carrier, USS LEXiriGTOn (AVT16). Relieved in December 1984, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assumed duties as Director of Plans, Policy and Programs for the United States Central Command in March 1985. Admiral Bernsen assumed duties as Commander, Middle East Force on 5 July 1986. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Joint Ser- vice Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and various theatre and campaign awards. Rear Admiral Bernsen is originally from Boston, Massachusetts. He is married to the former Doris Champion of Shelby, North Carolina.

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OFFICERS James T. Carroll, III Lieutenant Commander SEPT 1986 - Present Graduating from Villanova University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, Lieutenant Commander Carroll received his commission through the Maval Reserve Officer Training Corps (MROTC) Program. His first assignment was to the precommission- ing detail of USS MOinESTER (DE 1097) where he served as Gunnery Officer. During his tour on Moi- nester he also served as Tirst Lieutenant and Naviga- tor. In 1978 he was assigned as Mavigator onboard USS TULARE (LKA 112). While on Tulare, he also served as Communications and Operations Officer. After attending Surface Warfare Officer School fif Department Head School, he was assigned to the pre-commissioning detail for USS ANTRIM (FFG 20) as the Ship Control Officer. His next assignment was as Operations Officer on board USS TREnTOn (LPD 14). During this tour he participated in Operation Ur- gent rtiry in Grenada and multi-national peacekeep- ing force support operations in Beirut, Lebanon. Next, he was assigned as the Amphibious Readi- ness Officer for Commander, Amphibious Squadron Ten. Lieutenant Commander Carroll ' s decorations in- clude two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Torce Medal, Navy Expeditionary Eorce Medal, Hu- manitarian Service Medal and National Defense Med- al. He is married to the former Barbara Lynn Court- ney of Myerstown, Pennsylvania, with two sons, James and Matthew.