Tripoli (LPH 10) - Naval Cruise Book

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Nmap?-5 I 1 I 2 1 i A 1 1 I F a I 5 i 1 I 1 s I i 1 3 1 3 I N fl L I. F 1, i J

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CAPTAIN JOHN W. PETERSON UNITED STATES NAVY Born in Lynn Massachusetts, Captain Peterson earned his degree in Economics from Dartmouth Col- lege and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1967 through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program. Fol- lowing flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator in September 1968 and reported to VA-44 at NAS Cecil Field to commence training as a Light Attack Pilot in the A-4B. His long association with the Light Attack Community' began with sea tours with VA-106 on USS IN- DEPENDENCE CCV-62J, VA--36 on USS FORRESTAL QCV-591 and transition to the A-7E with VA-66 again on USS INDEPENDENCE. Subsequent tours included time as a Flight Instructor with VA-45 and VA-174, three years as Catapult Officer on USS ROOSEVELT CCV-421 and a Department Head tour with VA-37 on USS SARATOGA CCV-605. In August of 1981, Captain Peterson reported to VA-46 where he served as Executive Officer and Com- manding Officer on USS AMERICA KCV-665 until June 1984. After his initial command tour, he attended the Naval War College where he graduated with distinction in June 1985. Following the War College, Captain Peterson took command on VFA-106, the East Coast FIA-18 FRS, in December 1985. In Febru- ary 1987, he assumed command of Light Attack Wing ONE at Cecil Field. In April of 1988, Captain Peterson reported to USS SARATOGA QCV-601 as Executive Officer where he served until September 1989. In May of 1990 he took command of USS ST LOUIS QLKA-1165 where he remained until December 1991. Captain Peterson assumed duties as Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 on 27 February 1992. Captain Peterson has accumulated over 4000 hours in three generations of carrier based Light Attack Aircraft. He has earned the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, and various other ribbons and awards. Captain Peterson is married to the former Kristen Gaye Stott of Jacksonville, Florida and has three sons: Eric 21, an NROTC Senior at Vanderbilt University, Jeffery 16, Alex 7, and a daughter Meredith, age 6.

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CAPTAIN JOSEPH B. WILKINSON JR. CHIEF STAFF OFFICER AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON THREE A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Captain Joseph B. Wilkinson, Jr. graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1972. His first tour was aboard the USS BAGLEY QFF-10691 where he served as Gunnery Officer, First Lieutenant and Navigator. From there he went to Department Head School in Newport, Rhode Island and then assumed duties as the Weapons Officer in the commissioning crew of the USS DAVID R. RAY CDD-9715. Upon completion of that tour, he reported to the USS THOMASTON CLSD-281 as Operations Officer. Reporting to his first shore tour in 1981, he served as the Head, Ship Manpower Require- ments Section in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C. In 1983, he returned to the west coast as the Combat Systems Officer on the USS BELLEAU WOOD CLHA-31. From there he was assigned as the Executive Officer of the USS DENVER CLPD-95, continuing his service in the Pacific Fleet. Upon completion of that tour, he was transferred to joint duty with U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida. He assumed command of the USS BARBOUR COUNTY CLST-11955 in February 1991. Under his command, she completed a historic deployment in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM in the Arabian Gulf, and Operation SEA ANGEL in Bangladesh. Upon her decommissioning, he reported to Commander, Amphibious Squadron Three as Chief Staff Officer. After a brief pe- riod there, he was reassigned as Commanding Officer of the USS SCHENECTADY CLST- 11851, seeing her through the initial months of a deployment. Upon relief he returned to his position as Chief Staff Officer for COMPHIBRON Three, where he currently serves. Captain Wilkinson's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, the Navy Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, and various campaign awards.