The Sullivans (DDG 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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LIEUTEN NT COMMANDER WYATT CHIDE TER EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Chidester was commissioned via the Limited Duty Officer program in 1991 and subsequently approved for lateral conversion to the Unrestricted Line Community in 1996. From January of 1991 to July 1996, Lieutenant Commander Chidester served consecutive CIC Officer tours aboard USS GRIDLEY CCG 215 where he attained his Surface Warfare Qualification, and USS CHANCELLORSVILLE CCG 625 completing two Middle East Force deployments to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. From August 1996 to June 1998 he served as Assistant Surface Operations and Theater Missile Defense Officer on the staff of the Command-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe in London, England. Upon graduation from the Surface Warfare Department Head course in February 1999, Lieutenant Commander Chidester served consecutive Operations Officer tours in USS CARNEY QDDG 645 and USS GETTYSBURG CCG645 from May 1999 to May 2002, completing two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea in support of USS JOHN F. KENNEDY and USS ENTER- PRISE Battle Group operations. In June 2002, Lieutenant Commander Chidester reported to United States Southern Command, Miami, Florida and served as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Operations until April 2004. Lieutenant Commander Chidester assumed duties as the Executive Officer, USS THE SULLIVANS CDDG 685 in July 2004. Lieutenant Commander Chidester's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy!Marine Corps Commendation Medal C8 awards5, Navy! Marine Corps Achievement Medal C2 awards5, and Good Conduct Medal C3 awards5.

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COMMANDER WADE F. WILKE COMMANDING OFFICER CDecember 11, 2004 - Present5 Commander Wilkenson attended Northwestern University through the NROTC Scholarship Program and graduated in , 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. F. Following commissioning he reported to USS LYNDE MCCORMICK CDDG 85, serving as Machinery Division Officer, Gunnery Officer, and then as Navigator. He made two Western Pacific deployments and participated in Operation Praying Mantis, the 18 April 1988 retaliatory strike against Iranian oil platforms and naval assets following the mining of USS SAMUELB. ROBERTS CFFG 585. Next, Commander Wilkenson attended the Naval Postgraduate School, enrolling in the Weapons Systems Science Curriculum. He conducted research in Free Electron Lasers, and in June 1993 graduated with distinction, earning a Master's degree in Physics. From May 1994 through November 1997, Commander Wilkenson served consecutive sea tours as Chief Engineer in USS KLAKRING CFFG 425 and in USS BARRY QDDG 525, each including a Mediterranean deployment. In 1996, BARRY received the BATTENBURG CUP for the finest ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Golden Anchor Award for best people programs, and the USS Arizona Memorial Trophy for best overall fleet combat readiness. Commander Wilkenson was next assigned as the Second Tour Division Officer Detailer in the Surface Warfare Assignment Branch at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. From April 2000 through August 2001, Commander Wilkenson served as Executive Officer in USS GETTYSBURG CCG 645, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the ENTERPRISE Battle Group. Commander Wilkenson most recently served as Analyst and was Executive Assistant for Director, Assessment Division! Capabilities Analysis Group CN81!NO0X5 on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon. Commander Wilkenson assumed command of USS THE SULLIVAN S CDDG 685 in December 2004. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal ffive awards5, Navy Achievement Medal Cthree awards5, Combat Action Ribbon, and various campaign and service awards. He is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program.

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f:f?.5Q.Qiff'iw. . alrafa , 1... 5-if i'?,i31g13'3Qv .5 5-wfx ' ,.1, .'q1j '.,5Lt--35513 , - Y 2,11 gi Y . i'. 45 . .5 , I -ti A' 'Q ' .,. ,, yi .1 - Q.. . 11. . Q 'As gk A TER CHIEF fAW!SW3 DEAN LEONARD COMMAND MASTER CHIEF Command Master Chief Leonard is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. Upon completion of recruit training in 1963 at Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to USS KEARSARGE CCVS-333 at Long Beach, California. In February 1964, Master Chief Leonard reported to Aviation Fuels C School. Upon completion in May 1965, he returned to USS KEARSARGE. After his advancement to Petty Officer Third Class, he was assigned as Flight Deck Leading Petty Officer for the remainder of his tour. He advanced to Petty Officer Second Class just before leaving the Navy in December 1966. In April 1979, Master Chief Leonard re-entered the Navy as a Petty Officer Third Class and received orders to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light THIRTY-SIX CHSL-363 at Mayport, Florida. While there. he served as the Tool Room Supervisor. In December 1980, he again advanced to Petty Officer Second Class. Master Chief Leonard reported to USS FORRESTAL CCV 593 at Mayport, Florida in July 1981 where he served as Fuels Repair Supervisor. Master Chief Leonard deployed to the Mediterranean twice while embarked in FORRESTAL. In September 1983 Master Chief Leonard advanced to Petty Officer First Class, and reported to USS SARATOGA QCV 603 at Mayport, Florida where he served as Fuels Repair Supervisor. During that time he made one Mediterranean deployment. In March 1984, Master Chief Leonard reported to Navy Recruiting District Montgomery, Alabama where he served as a production recruiter for the next four years. While there, he earned recognition as Medium Station Recruiter of the Year. In September 1988, he advanced to Chief Petty Officer. Master Chief Leonard returned to USS SARATOGA CCV 603 in September 1989, and served as the Fuels Flight Deck Supervisor. He deployed twice to the Mediterranean, the second time in support of OPERATION DESERT STORM. He advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer in September 1991. In November 1992, he reported to Naval Station Rota, Spain's Supply Department as the Fuel Division Leading Chief Petty Officer in charge of the airfield and tank farm operations. During this tour he was selected as the Navy Representative for base closure at Upper Heyford, England, Royal Air Force CRAF3. In December 1994, he reported to USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT CCVN 713 at Naval Station Norfolk. Virginia as the Air Department 3M Coordinator. In April 1995, he advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer and in June 1996, was accepted to the Command Master Chief program. In October 1996, he reported to USS SCOTT CDDG 9953 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia as the Command Master Chief. In August of the following year, he attended the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island. After graduating from the Senior Enlisted Academy, he reported in October 1997 to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron FIVE at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida as Command Master Chief. In June 1999, he reported to Navy Recruiting District, Jacksonville, Florida as the Command Master Chief. In July 2002. he reported to USS THE SULLIVANS QDDG 683, Mayport, Florida as the Command Master Chief. Master Chief Leonard has earned the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal -7, Navy Achievement Medal-2, Navy Unit Commendation-4, Meritorious Unit Commendation-4, Battle E Ribbon-4, Good Conduct Medal-8, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal-3, Armed Forces Service Medal-2, Vietnam Service Medal, NATO Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal. GWOT Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal-3, Sea Service Ribbon-7, Southwest Asia Service Medal-3, Overseas Service Ribbon-2, Recruiting Ribbon-2, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal CSaudi Arabia3. and the Kuwait Liberation Medal tKuwait3. He is married to the former Tanis L. Gulley of Cincinnati, Ohio. Master Chief Leonard and his wife currently reside in Jacksonville. Florida. They have four grown children: Marty. Connie, Dean and Crystal. Chief Petty Officer Creed N0 one is more professional than I. I am a Chief Petty Officer, a leader of people. As a Chief Petty Officer, I realize that I am a member of an elite group known as the backbone of the Navy. I will not forget nor will I allow my comrades to forget, that we are professional Chief Petty Officers and leaders of people