• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Past, Present Aircraft Carrier COs Meet for "Command at Sea" Panel

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070805-01
Release Date: 8/5/2007 10:13:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Courtney Dock, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Two former commanding officers of historic U.S. Navy aircraft carriers joined the commanding officer of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier to participate in a special “Command At Sea” panel Aug. 2 at the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum on the flight deck of the former USS Midway (CV 41).

Capt. Terry B. Kraft, commanding officer of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joined retired Capt. Dennis W. Irelan, commanding officer of USS Independence (CV 62) from 1993-95 and retired Capt. Morris A. Peelle, who commanded USS Constellation (CV 64) from 1976-78 for the event.

The panel, addressing an audience of approximately 250 naval aviation enthusiasts, took questions on topics ranging from what was their deciding factor in becoming a naval aviator to the biggest fears of being a commanding officer of an aircraft carrier.

According to the panelists and those who attended, the underlying theme of the evening event was the similarities of being a commanding officer through the ever-changing and technologically evolving Navy.

“I think the three of us are more alike than you could imagine. It’s still the same kind of job, it is new technology, and it’s a new ship,” said Kraft. “It’s really about leading the people. It’s about motivating them to do their thing every day and keeping us focused on what’s ahead.”

Each panelist discussed how during their time as commanding officer their specific ship was the best and most powerful with the newest technology, especially when it came to communicating with family back home.

“Every ship at the time had the newest stuff and we thought we were the best,” Irelan told those in attendance.

According to Peelle, the changes in communication and technology that allow Sailors to communicate back home has changed significantly. He said he used to get letters from his wife, who wrote numbers on the back of the envelope so he could open them in numerical order as opposed to which one arrived first through the mail system.

“When I got home from cruise my three year-old daughter asked if I was really her daddy, and when I said ‘yes’ everything was fine after that,” added Peelle.

Times have certainly changed.

“We have a lot of ways to keep our families in the loop and try to communicate on what’s going on,” said Kraft, speaking about Ronald Reagan’s current family support programs.

Kraft told the panel about video teleconferencing and the United Through Reading program that allows deployed military parents to record themselves reading books. The videos are sent home to their children and spouses, giving their children the gift of seeing mom or dad while keeping them connected to the home.

A special guest in the crowd included retired Capt. Louis H. Bauer, the commanding officer of USS Yorktown (CVS 10) from 1959-60, who said he especially enjoyed the evening.

“I came to listen,” said Bauer. “Everyone’s comments were like what I remember my time of being the commanding officer of the Yorktown. Not much has changed and everything has changed.”

For Jay Renard, a former Aviation Electronics Technician who served in the Navy from 1969 to 1970, the evening was about reminiscing about his time in the Navy.

“I came with an open mind,” said Renard. “Every Sailor has sea stories; it’s just good to learn about the CO’s insight with a little humor.”

Ronald Reagan is currently undergoing a planned incremental availability in her homeport of San Diego following a three-month surge deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.