Ranger (CV 61) - Naval Cruise Book

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C0 DI G OFFICER e F ' a I Captain Don HL liaircl Cornrnarrdirrg Otlicer USS Rarrger Captain Don W. liaird was born in Hash- ington, Perrrrsylvarria on I-1 April 1940. After attending San .lose College. he en- tered the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in April 1961, completing flight training in September' 1962 at Corpus Christi. Texas. Captain Baird nas ordered to NAS Moffett Field, California for his first totrrofdtrty with VR-57t1ying C-121 and C- 150 aircraft. Electing to serve a split sea tour, he reported to NAS North Island, California for transition to carrier aviation and a tour with VS-58, a USS BENNING- TON tCVS-201 based 5-2E squadron. In November 1967, Captain Baird reported to the S-2E Fleet Replacement Squadron, VS-41, as an instructor pilot. He nas then ordered to the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Califomia in December 1968. After receiving a Bachelors Degree in International Relations in Decerrrber 1970, Captain Baird returned to NAS North lslarrd for duty with VS-21 and de- ployment to the Western Pacific in USS TICONDEROGA ICVS-1-ll. 10 COMMANDIIYG OFFICER lfaplairr Baird receives a familiarization fire on the .50 Caliber Machine Gun. Captain Baird then attended the Naval War College Conrrnand and Stall' Course at Nenport, Rhode Island. Upon gradu- ation in July 1974, he was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel where he sened as an aviation assignment ollicer until March 1977. After completion ofjet transition training and the S-5A Fleet Re- placement Squadron in December 1977, Captain Baird was assigned to VS-58 as Executive Ofticer and deployed to the Western Pacificflndian Ocean with C VW- 14 in USS ENTERPRISE 1CVN-651. He as- sumed command in January 1979 and afterjoining CVW-9 and USS CONSTELLA- TION tCV-641, deployed once again to the Western Pacificyflndian Ocean. Captain Baird was ordered next to the stafTofCom- rnander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet where he served as the S- 5A Readiness and Training Oflicer until September 1981. From October .1981 to March 1982, Cap- tain Baird attended numerous training courses in preparation for assuming com- mand ofCarrierAir Wing TWO aboard USS RANGER KCV-611 and served in that capac- ity from April 1982 until July 1985. In Au- gust 1985, Captain Baird reported to Com- mander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and assumed the duties of Air Training Officer, AHer extensive pipeline training he assumed command of USS NEW OR- LEANS ILPH-11l in April 1985 and de- ployed to the Western Pacific. In Septem- ber 1986 he reported once again to Com- mander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and assumed the duties of Force Readi- ness Oflicer. On 8 May 1987 he assumed command of USS RANGER and deployed to the Western Pacific and Northern Arabian Sea from July to December 1987. Captain Baird is married to the former Nancy Gail Owens of Lubbock, Texas. They have a daughter, Lynn, and a son, Scott.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER ,rg J I Il I r If ir... Captain McClendon in a friendly discussion with Secretary Of The Navy James Webb. Captain Robert P. McClendon Jr., of La- Fayette, Alabama, graduated from Auburn University in 1965. After completing Na val Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in May 1966, he was or- dered to USS TICONDEROOA ICVA-142, where he completed two combat deploy- ments in support of operations in Viet- nam. Qualilied in all phases of Combat Informa- tion Center operations, he was assigned to Naval Technical Training Center, Glynco, Georgia, in 1968, as an instructor in CIC operations. In 1970, he reported for basic Na val Flight Officer training at Pensacola, Florida. He subsequently attended basic Airborne Tactical Data Systems training at RVA W- 110 at NAS North Island, California. He joined VA W-116 in January 1971 aboard USS CONSTELLA TION KCV-641 in the Gulf of Tonkin. During his tour with the Sun Rings, he served as Safety Oliicer, Training Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. Reporting again to RVA W-110 in August 1974, he headed a team that consolidated the former NA TTC Glynco and RVA W-110 courses. In addition to classroom, trainer and flight instructor duties, he was the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet E-28 Naval Air Training Operations Procedures Stan- dardization lNA TOPS! Evaluator, the squadron Training Coordinator and, for two years, the squadron Operations Offi- cer. After attending the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, he reported to VA W-11 7 in April 1978 where he served as Maintenance Officer during his sixth West- ern Pacihc deployment. Upon detaching from VA W-11 7, he attended E-2C qualifica- tion at R VA W-120 in Norfolk, Virginia. In February 1980, he reported as VA W-116 Executive Officer and deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans in sup- port of the Iranian contingency oper- ations. In April 1981, he became Com- Captain Robert P. McClendon Jr. Executive Officer USS Ranger manding Officer of VA W-116. He detached from VA W-116 in May 1982 and reported to the Army War College in Carlisle, Penn- sylvania. From July 1985 to April 1985, he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations lStrategy, Plans and Policy Di- vision J. Captain McClendon reported to Commander, FighterAirborne Early Warn- ing Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet in May 1985 as the Commanding Officer of VA W-110, the West Coast E-2C Fleet Replacement Squadron. Alter attending the post-command Inte- grated Warfare Course at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, he re- ported to USS RANGER ICV-612 in Febru- ary 1987 as Executive Officer. Captain McClendon is married to the for- mer Jennifer Ann Faircloth of Lumberton, North Carolina. They reside in Leucadia, California, with their two daughters, Mi- chelle and Shannon. EXECUTIVE OFFICER 11