Trenton (LPD 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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l ' 1 Command Master Chief CMDCMKSWJ Charles Vertigan . -1.-.

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Lieutenant Commander Donegan, a native of Hagerstown, MD, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science In History. He is also a graduate of the American Military University with a Master of Arts in Military Studies fNaval Warfarej. LCDR Donegan served as Combat Information Center QCICJ Ofiicer and Training Officer in USS STUMP CDD 9783. While onboard STUMP he participated in UNITAS 35-94, Counter-Drug Operations, and an Independent deployment to the Arabian Gulf LCDR Donegan then retumed to the Naval Academy as an instructor in the Department of Seamanship and Navigation, where he taught for two years. After shore duty and Department Head School, LCDR Donegan reported to USS PAUL F FOSTER CDD 9645 as Operations Officer. As Operations Officer, he completed another deployment to the Arabian Gulf. Upon completion of his first Department Head tour, LCDR Donegan reported to the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron NINE in Everett, WA. While on the CDS9 Staff, LCDR Donegan participated in MILLENIUM CHALLENGE 2002 and Fleet Battle Experiment IULIET. Additionally, he participated in a surge deployment to the Westem Pacific embarked in USS CARL VINSON QCVN 701 that lasted over nine months and included Fleet Battle Experiment KILO. While on deployment, LCDR Donegan transferred to the staff of Commander, Carrier Group THREE falso embarked on CARL VINSONJ as the Surface Strike Operations Officer. While on the CC G3 Staff, he completed the WestPac deployment, eight months of service as ready Strike Group, and the training cycle for another deployment. He detached from the CCSG3 Staff in February 2005 and reported to USS TRENTON CLPD 149 as Executive Officer in June 2005. Lieutenant Commander Donegan's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Cfive awardsj, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal fthree awardsj, and various unit, campaign and service medals. Lieutenant Commander Donegan and his wife LCDR Amy Donegan, USNR, reside in Virginia Beach, VA with their children Thomas, Angela, and Theresa. 122 1,

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Master Chief Charles E. Vertigan was born and raised in Central New York and is a 1976 graduate of West Genesee High School, Camillus, NY. He entered the Naval service on February 24, 1978 in the Cryptologic Field. 'In January 1979, CTRSN Vertigan reported for duty at NSGA San Vito, Italy where he served as a High Frequency and Wide Band Direction Finding Operator with a follow-on tour in August of 1980 to NSGA Keflavik, Iceland. In August of 1981, CTR2 Vertigan reported to NSGA Northwest, Virginia, serving as Report Quality Control and Technical Processing and Reporting Unit Supervisor overseeing the operations and reporting of 15 Atlantic HFDFXWBDF stations. In August 1984, CTR1 Vertigan reported to the National Cryptologic School Fort Meade, Maryland in the Cryptologic Skills for Non-Commissioned Officers course CCY-1555 before returning to San Vito, Italy in March of 1985, as Command Operations Watch Officer and Senior Reporting Analyst overseeing all Processing and Reporting functions. In October of 1987, he reported to USS TICONDEROGA CCG-475 via NTTC Corry Station for Cryptologic Combat Support System Operator C School. Onboard TICONDEROGA, he participated in five EARNEST WILL Tanker Escort Operations in the Persian Gulf, several CHECKMATE VII Counter Drug deployments to the Caribbean, two MED Cruises, and a deployment to the Baltic Sea. Here he earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist insignia and was advanced to Chief Petty Officer during OPERATION DESERT STORMXDESERT SHIELD. CTRCCSW5 Vertigan transferred to Cryptologic Services Group Atlantic in April 1990 and served as both Watch Officer and Operations Leading Chief with follow-on orders to Naval Information Operations Detachment Diego Garcia where he served as Command Training Officer overseeing all Command Training requirements for 375 personnel. In November 1995, he reported to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command managing the system testing, and integration of evolving Information Warfare weaponsftools and doctrine into fleet operations under the Cryptologic and Information Operations Directorates. During this tour, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems. In January of 2000, he reported to Commander, Second Fleet as the Intelligence Department Leading Chief!Senior Enlisted Advisor and Senior Enlisted Cryptologist, ensuring Battle Group cryptologists received robust, realistic training before forward deploying and was integral in providing Cryptologic support during OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE. He reported to Naval Information Operations Support Detachment, Chesapeake, in December 2002 as Assistant Officer in Charge and Senior Enlisted Advisor, overseeing all Training, Operations, and Scheduling for the CLASSIC OWL Program. In February 2004 he was selected to the Command Master Chief Program and graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy CKhaki 1125 and Command Master Chief!Chief of the Boat Class. He reported onboard USS TRENTON QLPD 145 as Command Master Chief in August 2004 upon graduation. Onboard TRENTON, he forward deployed to the COMUSNAVCENTICOMFIFTHFLT Theater in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, the HORN OF AFRICA Anti-Piracy Operations, and the Global War on Terror. Master Chief Vertigan's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal 115, Navy Commendation Medal 135, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal C35 and the Good Conduct Medal C75. He holds a variety of service and campaign medals and personal awards. Master Chief Vertigan is married to the former Patrice Lynn Diehl of Massapequa, New York. They reside in Chesapeake, Virginia with their four daughters.