• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Center for Surface Combat Systems Change of Command Ceremony

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100720-01
7/20/2010

By Kimberly Lansdale, Center for Surface Combat Systems Public Affairs

DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- The Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) will be holding a change of command ceremony July 30 at 10:30 a.m. on board Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va.

Capt. Stephen W. Hampton, who has served as commanding officer of CSCS since December 2006, will be relieved by Capt. Robert S. Kerno Jr.

Kerno comes to Dahlgren from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Surface Warfare Division in Washington, D.C, where he was director of the maritime warfare systems/surface strike branch.

Kerno grew up in Crofton, Md., and is a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Kerno has served in a variety of assignments aboard ships and on staffs. His afloat duty included USS Austin (LPD-4), USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), USS Valley Forge (CG 50), USS Hoper (DDG 70), USS Yorktown (CG 48) and USS Normandy (CG 60). Among his shore assignments, Kerno has served as resource sponsor/action officer for the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (N865E2), branch head for Area and Self-Defense Weapons for the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (N765) and division chief for Stability Operations and Security Assistance for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hampton is a native of Brookfield, Wis., and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He was commissioned in 1981.

Hampton's sea duty assignments included tours on board USS Forrestal (CV 59), USS Clark (FFG 11), USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) and USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51). He commanded the Spruance-class destroyer USS Deyo (DD 989) from October 1999 through June 2001 and USS Normandy (CG 60) from October 2004 until September 2006.

During his shore assignments, Hampton earned a Master of Science in anti-submarine warfare technologies in 1987 from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. In 2004 he earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, D.C., specializing in Balkan and economic studies.

His awards include the Legion of Merit with one gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars and Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars.

Hampton will transfer to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic in Norfolk.