Nimitz (CVN 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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i commander Destroyer Squadron TWENTYQTHREE Captain Barry Costello Captain Barry M. Costello is a native of Vermont. He attended Holy Cross College and was eemmissinned as an through the NROTC Program in 1973. His first assignment was as Communica ions .1 t' Off cer, Combat Information Center Officer and Navigateifen cnnsesb. p i' ' 1 P ll h 'he jr-edaJmLsDccterDegree After a tour at Navy Recruiting District, Boston, he attended Albany Law Schoo W ere e earn 1981 and was admitted to the New York State Bar. A He returned to the Surface Line Community in 1981, graduating from SWOS Department Plead Selifonl, and reported to the P Off e sfDestro er USS WHIPPLE CFF 10623 as Weapons Officer. This assignment was followed by additional sea tours as Gperations vie r .li . y Squadron FIVE and Executive Officer of USS HARRY W. HILL CDD 9863. A He then attended the College of Naval Command and Staff where he was selected as hondr Qtraduatre, graduated With Distinction, and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Foreign Affairs. Captain Costello's next assignment was as a Joint Planner in the Operational Plans and Interoperability Directorate CJ-71, the Joint Staff. He returned to sea as Commanding Officer of USS ELLIOT CDD 9675 in 1992, completing a Middle EastFnree deploymen and leading the ship to consecutive Battle Efficiency awards. A follow-on sea tour as the Assistant Chiefef fer Operations, Third Fleet Staff, preceded his current assignment as Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-THREE. Captain Costel1o's personal decorations include the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious ce Medal with two gold stars, and,-the Navy Commendation Medal with a gold star. ' , . Captain Costello is married to the former LuAnne Golomb-owski of Durango, Colorado. They have tive 80118, Aidan all Brendan. ,

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, za Executive Officer USS January 96 Q Commander Eric C. Neidlinger Commander Eric Neidlinger, born in San Diego, California, entered the United States Naval Academy in 1972. He received his commission as an Ensign in June 1976, and reported to Fighter Squadron Forty-Three for further assignment to Eight training at NAS Pensacola in November 1976. He was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1977, and M NAS Qwarria, for training in the F-14 Tomcat . In March 1979, he reported to Fighter Squadron Forty-One, embarlted on board USS In January 1982, Commander Neidlinger reported for training at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot Wheel at Edwards AFB, California. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California. lWlii.le at C, lie was assigned to the Advanced Common Intercept Missile Demonstration project and performed Weapons and software tests with the F!Af18 Hornet . In November 1985, Commander Neidlinger was assigned to Fighter Squadron Fourteen at Oceana, Virginia. During this tour, he was assigned as Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer, deploying on USS J DY QICV' 575. after temporary duty on the staff of Commander, Fighter Wing One, he was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadmn Four, NAS Point Mugu, California in October 1988. While at VX-4, he performed operational testing of the T-45 'Gtoshawk ,, Fel , and initial evaluation ofthe Navy Advanced Tactical FighterfF-22 Lightning ll. He was eventually assigned as Omcer. ln December 1990, he reported for duty to Fighter Squadron One Hundred Two as Executive Officer, and assumed edmmand of the Diamondbacks in February 1992. During his tour with VF-102, he deployed on board USS America HCV fouredmbat in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 9 Commander Neidlinger reported to OPNAV .as F-14 Requirements Officer in April 1993. In June 1999, Commander Neidlinger was selected to participate in the Navy's Nuclear Power Program. He reported to the Navy Nu Fewer Training Command, Orlando, Florida, in April 1994, and, upon successful completion of 20 months of training, reportm onboard USS NIMITZ as Executive Officer in January 1996. itti f ' Over the length of his career, Commander Neidlinger has accumulated 3,500 Bight hours and S50 landings in Over 30 types of military aircraft. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with old star the Air l Q Combat MVH, two Strike-Flight Air Medals and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and two gold stars. Commander Neidlinger is married to the former Vicky Voigt of Owatonna, Minnesota. They have two children, Ryan and Erik. s . a with