Long Beach (CGN 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN WILLIAM R. BURNS, JR. COMMANDING OFFICER USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) Captain William R. Burns, Jr. took command of the nuclear powered cruiser USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) in November 1990. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, attended high school in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin and graduated from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1967. Upon commissioning, he was assigned as Weapons Offi- cer in the gunboat USS GALLUP (PG 85), a unit of the Market Time Forces in the Republic of Viet- nam. Subsequent sea duty included tours as Operations Officer in USS MEYERKORD (DE 1058); Com manding Officer, USS UTE (ATE 76); Main Propulsion Assistant in USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9); Executive Officer, USS ARKANSAS (CGN41); and Commanding Officer, USS BAGLEY (FF 1069). Captain Burns most recent assignment was as Chief Engineer in USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). Assignments ashore have included tours as Junior Officer Detailer in the Naval Military Personnel Command and as Nuclear Type Desk Officer on the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Captain Burns is a graduate of the Navy Nuclear Power School, the National War Col- lege and the John F. Kennedy School of Govern- ment at Harvard University, where he was awarded a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Captain Bums is authorized to wear the Meritori- ous Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, and various unit and campaign awards. Captain Burns is married to Catherine Ann Ballinger, a Lieutenant in the Navy ' s Civil Engineer Corps. He has a daughter Bobbi and a son William, who reside in Virginia.

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COMMANDER RONALD HEATH EXECUTIVE OFFICER USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) Commander Ronald Heath served as Executive Officer from June 1990 to October 1991. He was bom in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, graduated from Titusville High School. Titusville, Florida in 1971 and attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), majoring in Engineering. Upon graduation and commissioning in May 1975, Commander Heath completed Nuclear Propulsion Training and Surface Warfare Officer School in 1976. He served on the commissioning crew of the USS TEXAS (CGN 39) as the Electri- cal Division Officer and Nuclear Training Assistant from 1976 to 1979. He served as the Damage Con- trol Assistant in USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40) from 1979 to 1980 and as Instructor and Division Director, Naval Nuclear Power Sc hool from 1980 to 1983. After graduation from Department Head School in 1983. Commander Heath served as the Combat Systems Officer in USS O ' BANNON (DO 987) from 1984 to 1985 and as the Main Propulsion Assistant in USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) from 1985 to 1987. Commander Heath then successfully completed a most recent tour at Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet as a Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board Inspector and as Executive Officer from 1987 to 1990. prior to reporting to USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) for duty as the Executive Officer. Commander Heath holds the following decora- tions: Meritorious Service Medal. Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle Efficiency Awards, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.