Nimitz (CVN 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Stephen R. Loeffler is the second of three children bom to Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer F. Loeffler of Philadel- phia, Pa. He was commissioned after graduation from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968. His first assignments included USS HAVERFIELD QDER-3935 as ASW and Gunnery Officer, USCGC POINT CLEAR as AOIC operating in Vietnam, and USS SHIELDS CDD-596D as Weapons Officer. He also served as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Com- mander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. After attending the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College followed by Destroyer School, Captain Loeffler returned to sea as Chief Engineer in USS GRAY CFF- 1054J in 1975. During his subsequent assignment to the Bureau of Naval Personnel as a Placement Officer and Division Director's Assistant, he earned a Master of Science degree with distinction in Manpower and Economics from The George Washington University. Upon completion of his tour of duty in Washington, he served as Executive Officer in USS COOK CFF-10833 and Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron 31 assigned to Battle Group CHARLIE in USS CORAL SEA QCV-435 and USS CARL VINSON CCVN-705. He has made twelve deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. After serving as the Manpower, Personnel and Training Analyst in the Program Resource Appraisal Division COP-915 in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Captain Loeffler commanded USS HEWITT CDD- 966j. His command tour in HEWITT encompassed ASW Squadron Operations in the Pacific and major modernization including VLS, TOMAHAWK, SQQ-89 ASW Suite, Lamps MKIII, VLA and many other combat enhance- ments. HEWITT was awarded the Secretary of the Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation and Battle E . Returning to Washington, Captain Loeffler served as Head of -Xx- f6Elf52Z?i: ,,,,,, 2 . if S,,.x,N'5q'1L,,-J Z Enlisted Cormnunity Management on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations COP-013, and Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to Commander, Naval Military Personnel Command! Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel! OP-OIB. He assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 21 in June 1991. Captain Loeffler's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy Achievement medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Battle E for USS HEWITT and USS GRAY, and various Unit and Campaign awards. Captain Loeffler is married to the former Deborah Ann Diehl of Newport, R.I. They have two children, Lauren and Christo- pher. Captain Loeffler is a member of the New York Yacht Club and the USNSA. Their interests include cooking and sailing.

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Lag. . i -.,,.-.., 11, ww - ---.-1?--4-W -.ne-mer . w.g........a,.:f..,.-,...--.......,,........,f.,-..,....,,. ,,,.,, ,,,.,,,,,. , I f 1 DESTROYER SQUADRO TWENTY ON On March 10 1943 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, nine of the new and powerful 2100 ton class C d fCa tain F.X. destroyers were formed into Destroyer Squadron TVVENTY ONE, under the omman .o p . . Mclnerney. The Squadron joined in the push northward from the South Pacific and saw IIS first action in ' - th first to encounter the enem the battle for the Solomon Islands. USS O BANNON CDD 4509 WHS 6 Y when she sank the submarine RO-34 by gunfire after forcing her to surface. Solomon Islands Operations brought the present Destroyer Squadron TWENTY ONE's insignia, a C d the motto Solomons Rampant Lion with a trident, sweeping the seas beneath the Southern ross, an Onwardf' O D . 9 1954 Destro er S uadron EIGHTEEN arrived from the East Coast, was redesignated n ec , , y q ' Destroyer Squadron TWENTY ONE, and commenced a significant role in Pacific Fleet operations, including the evacuation of the Tachen Islands. ' From 1965 until the 1973 cease-Fire, the squadron participated in the Vietnam conflict in a number of roles including naval gunfire support, escort duty for Carrier Strike Groups, search and rescue, radar surveillance and coastal patrol. I Since 1973, Destroyer Squadron TVVENTY ONE has made numerous deployments to the Western Pacific. Between deployments, the Squadron has participated in numerous Eastern Pacific exercises, while assisting assigned ships in achieving! maintaining high states of training and material readiness. Recently the Squadron provided ships to the Middle East Force and escorts for the battleship USS NEW JERSEY CBB-621 Battle Group. The Squadron was deployed from May to October 1986 as part of the NEW JERSEY Battle Group, the Navy's first Tomahawk Cruise Missile-equipped battle group. From September 1987 to April 1988, Destroyer Squadron TVVENTY ONE deployed twice for 3 months, serving as CTG 75.1. From September 1989 to March 1990 Destroyer Squadron TVVENTY ONE deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans with USS ENTERPRISE KCVN 651 as a member of Battle Group Foxtrot. In 1991 Destroyer Squadron TWVENTY ONE deployed with the USS NIMITZ battle group to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The Rampant Lions of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY ONE are proud of their heritage and of their vital current and future roles in support of our nation's worldwide maritime interests and responsibili- ties. Q I yi 3 . ' 5 A 5 CDR Sweeney LCDR D.D. Archibald LCDRj.N. Christenson LT CJ. Nelson LT D.R. Newton LT . Okerstrom LT K.C. Ritter ENSJ.P. Naman OCCSQSWJ j.D. Anthony HMCS D.Y. Banag MMCSCSWJ C.L. Proctor RMGSCSWJ Woods MSI L. Grady, jr. RP1j.E.D. Lewis STG1 Thompson n 1 I I