Mauna Kea (AE 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER R. B. CHARUHAS UNITED STATES NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER USS MAUNA KEA (AE 22) COMMANDER CHARUHAS IS ORIGINALLY FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ON A NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS SCHOLARSHIP, GRADUATING AND RECEIVING HIS COMMISSION IN JUNE 1968 HE IS ADDITIONALLY A GRADUATE OF THE U.S. NAVAL DESTROYER SCHOOL (CLASS 36) AND THE COL- LEGE OF NAVAL COMMAND AND STAFF (CLASS OF ' 81) AT THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE IN NEWPORT. RHODE ISLAND. COMMANDER CHARUHAS ' SEA ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE TOURS AS DAMAGE CONTROL ASSISTANT AND MINE COUN- TERMEASURES OFFICER FIRST LIEUTENANT IN USS RIVAL (MSO 468), EXECUTIVE OFFICER, USS MAHOPAC (ATA 196) WEAPONS OFFICER USS COURTNEY (DE 1021), OPERATIONS OFFICER, USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS 4), AND EXECU- TIVE OFFICER USS MOUNT HOOD (AE 29). HIS MOST RECENT SHORE ASSIGNMENT WAS AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND. GREAT LAKES, WHERE HE WAS DESIGNATED A PROVEN SUBSPECIALIST IN EDUCA- TION AND TRAINING MANAGEMENT. COMMANDER CHARUHAS ASSUMED COMMAND OF USS MAUNA KEA ON 17 DE- CEMBER 1986. HE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN IN 1989. COMMANDER CHARUHAS ' DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH TWO GOLD STARS, THE MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION WITH BRONZE STAR, THE NAVY EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS, TWO AWARDS OF THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL. THE NAVY ' S BATTLE EFFICIENCY RIBBON WITH TWO Es. AND THE SEA SERVICE DEPLOYMENT RIBBON WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS. COMMANDER CHARUHAS IS MARRIED TO THE FORMER MARY LYNNE SAUNDERS OF LIBERTYVILLE. ILLINOIS. THEY HAVE ONE DAUGHTER. EMILY. yl I s, N r

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAILORS BRING A SHIP TO LIFE AND GIVE HER PERSONALITY. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO BE PART OF THE CREW THAT HAS HELPED DEVELOP MAUNA KEA ' S PERSONALITY. DURING OUR DEPLOYMENT I WATCHED THE SHIP COME TO LIFE AND OUR CREW LEARN TO WORK AND PLAY TOGETHER AS ONE TEAM. I CAN TRULY SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER SERVED WITH A FINER CREW. MAUNA KEA TODAY RADIATES AN INNER GLOW THAT COMES FROM THE CREW, A GLOW THAT IS EASILY SEEN BY ALL WHO OBSERVE HER. THANKS FOR THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE MAUNA KEA TEAM. STEVE WOMACK CDR USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER XMAS ELF