Laboon (DDG 58) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

COMMANDING OFFICER November 2002 - I ' resenl Coimnander Michael Graham Commander Michael Graham was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Overland Park, Kansas. He was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy through the NROTC program at the University of Kansas in 1984 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. His most recent previous assignment was as a Naval Strategist with the U.S. Special Operations Command, Campaign Support Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sea duty assignments include: Pre-commissioning Electronics Readiness Officer and COmbat Information Center Officer in USS CARR (FFG 52), Combat Sysytems Officer in USS RENTZ (FFG 46) , Pre-commissioning Combat Systems Officer in USS HUE CITY (CG 66), Executive Officer in USS BARRY (DDG 52) , and Surface Operations Officer for Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group One. Ashore, CDR Graham has served at the the Surface Warfare Development Group asthe AEGIS Tactics and Joint Air Defense Officer and at Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the Strike Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare Officer. CDR Graham has a Master ' s Degree in management from Troy State University. He is a graduate of the Air Command Staff College. He graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces earning a Master ' s Degree in National Resource Strategy. He is a proven subspecialist in Command and Control and COmbat Systems. Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards). Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two av;ards) . Commander Graham is a former COMNAVSURFLANT Shiphandler of the Year recipient of an AEGIS Excellence Award . Commander Graham and his wife Judy, a school teacher with the Virginia Beach School District, live in Chesapeake, Virginia with theit two sons, Blake and Connor. Coiiiiiiandinii Officer

Page 6 text:

COMMANDING OFFICER .laniiarv 2001 - Novenibcr 2002 Commander Phillip C. Pardue Commander Pardue was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy through the NROTC program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee . His first tour was on USS HAWES (FFG-53) in Charleston, South Carolina as Ordnance Officer and Damage Control Assistant. Upon Completion of the Naval Postgraduate School and receiving a Masters Degree in Operations Research, Commander Pardue reported to USS TICONDEROGA (CG-47) in April 1991 as the Weapons Control Officer. In December 1992 he reported to USS ARLEIGH BURKE {DDG-51) as the Combat Systems Officer. In June 19 94, he was assigned to the Joint Staff J- 8 in the Strike Warfare Assessment Division until September 1996. Commander Pardue then returned to sea as Executive Officer, USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53) . Following a shore tour as the Assistant Commander Detailer at the Naval Personnel Command he assumed command of USS LABOON in January 2001. Commander Pardue ' s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star. Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and Navy Achievement Medal with gold star. C ' omii I. liidinu Officer

Page 8 text:

EXECTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Conanander George S. Capen Lieutenant Commander George S. Capen is from Dearborn, Michigan and enlisted as a Machinist Mate in the Navy in 1982. He entered the Naval Academy from the Nuclear Propulsion program in 1985. He studied oceanography and graduated with the Class of 1989. At sea, his division officer tours included Communications and ASW Officer in USS KINKAID (DD 965) . His Department Head tours were as the pre-commissioning Operations Officer in USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) and he served as Combat Systems Officer and then Operations Officer in COMDESRON 21. Ashore, Lieutenant Commander Capen completed a Master of Physics degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He is also a graduate of the MIT Strategic Studies Fellowship Program Seminar XXI. He recently departed the Navy Staff in the Pentagon where he was Special Assistant for Long-Range Planning to the Chief of Naval Operations and Speechwriter for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal .