McFaul (DDG 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMAND MASTER CHIEF MSCM (SW AW) Steve Luster United States navy Master Chief Steve Luster joined the Navy on 22 September 1976 and completed Recruit Training in San Diego, California. Mis duty assignments include USS BARNSATBLE COUnTY (1197); MAS Morfolk; USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20); Armed Forces Staff College; USS Scott (DDQ 995); CINCLANTFLT; MAS Morfolk and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 65). Presently assigned to the USS McFAUL (DDG 74) as Command Master Chief. Master Chief Luster ' s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achieve- ment Medal with one gold star, Good Conduct Medal with five gold stars, National Defense Medal, Sea Ser- vice Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars and various unit and campaign awards.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Virgil S Wright LCDR Wright is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI and was commissioned in Feb- ruary 1987. In November 1987, he reported aboard USS GRID- LEY (CQ-21) where he served as Repair Division, Main Machinery, Interior Communications and Missile Divi- sion Officer. He also served as the Quality Assurance Officer for GRIDLEYs COH. In November of 1990 he reported to the Pre-commissioning crew of USS SHILOH (CQ-67) where he served as Fire Control Offi- cer until August 1993. Following completion of Department Head School he reported to USS CAPE ST GEORGE (CG-71) in Au- gust 1994 as the Weapons Control Officer. He later served as the Combat Systems Officer from June of 1995 until March of 1997. His first shore tour was at the Combat Systems Di- rectorate of Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic where he served as the staff Strike and Surface War- fare Officer until November 1998. LCDR Wright then attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI obtain- ing a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He reported aboard USS McFAUL in July 2000. LCDR Wright ' s personal awards include the Meritori- ous Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), and various unit and campaign awards. LCDR Wright is married to the former Debra Shaughnessy of Lowell, Massachusetts and has three children, Ryan, Michael and Meaghan.

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PREPARING TO GET UNDERWAY Today started like most other days in the Navy. We all got out of bed when the alarm clock went off and got ourselves ready to go to work. By the end of the day, we were on our way across the Atlantic Ocean for a six-month deployment. This was the first time many of us had been underway for this length of time. For others, it was routine, just another cruise we had to do. For all of us it was another chal- lenge. When not on watch or otherwise occu- pied what could we do? Mere are the chroni- cles . . . © TC H « TOP: IT2 Mebo and IT2 Peters help load the ship with food for the deployment. ABOVE: STQ3 Beaird loading sandbags that will be used for force protection. RIGHT: GM2 Ott takes a break from cleaning Aft VLS to pose for the camera.