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battalion staff |
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COMMANDING OFFICER
Captain Martin P. Smith is a native of Middletown ,
Ohio. A 1975 graduate from Miami University , he earned
a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. After
teaching and coaching in Lebanon , Ohio , he entered
Aviation Officer Candidate School and received his
commission in October 1980. He was designated a Naval
Flight Officer 24 July 1981.
During his career in Naval Aviation, he has flown the
S-3A and S-3B Viking. His operational assignments were
with the Scouts of VS-24 where he served as Air ASW
Officer, Personnel Officer and Aircraft Division
Officer; the Topcats of VS-31 where he served as
Assistant Operations Officer and made the first
operational deployment of the S-3B Viking during
Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the VS-32
Maulers serving as Administrative, Training and Aircraft
Maintenance Officer; and again with VS-32 as Executive
Officer. He assumed Command of the World Famous
Maulers at sea in USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) with
Joint Task Group 98-1. During his Command tour the
Maulers were recognized as the finest VS Squadron in the
U.S. Atlantic Fleet, earning the Battle E, Arleigh
Burke, Jimmy Thatch, Asbell and Safety SAwards. They
extended their operational safety record to over 15
years and 60,000 flight hours Class A mishap free.
Captain Smiths shore duty assignments include Naval
Strike Warfare Center (NSWC), Fallon, Nevada where he
was assigned as a Tactics and Strike Instructor and
during his tour qualified as a Flight Officer in the
A-6E Intruder, F-18D Hornet and EA-6B Prowler aircraft,
a TLAM Strike Planner and joined the NSWC Strike
Planning Team formulating Air/Land Battle Operations for
Desert Storm. Following his Department Head tour he was
assigned to Sea Control Wing U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the
Wing Operations Officer, and followed as the Chief of
Staff. His Post Command tours include: Naval Air Systems
Command, Pax River as the Class Desk Engineer for the
S-3B aircraft, followed by Senior Systems Engineering
Officer for NAVAIRSYSCOM 4.0. His most recent assignment
was Chief of Staff, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern
Command and Commander Task Force Forty-Seven directing
all Air Operations, Assets and Forward Operating
Locations in the SOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility.
During his Naval career, Captain Smith has accumulated
over 4000 total flight hours in multiple tactical
aircraft and 700 arrested landings. He has attended the
Naval Postgraduate School Monterrey, California, where
he earned a Master of Science degree in Management and
he has also completed the Air Command Staff College.
Captain Smiths awards include; The Legion of Merit,
Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal
(3), the Navy Achievement Medal and numerous unit and
theater service decorations. |
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Commander Eric Coleman is a native of Houston, Texas.
Upon graduation from high school, he spent one year at
Lamar University then received a congressional
nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in
1987. Upon commissioning into the U.S. Navy, he entered
the surface warfare training pipeline and graduated from
SWOS Basic in Coronado, CA in 1987.
CDR Coleman began his Surface Warfare Officer career
onboard USS DAVID R. RAY (DD 971) stationed in San
Diego, CA. where he served as the Electrical Officer,
Gunnery Officer, and Engineering Officer. During his
tour the ship shifted home port to Long Beach, CA and
made a deployment to the Persian Gulf and participated
in OPERATION DESERT SHIELD. His next operational command
was onboard USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) home ported in Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii where he served as the Engineering
Officer. While onboard, the ship made two Western
Pacific deployments as part of the CONSTELLATION BATTLE
GROUP. Next he was assigned as the Executive Officer in
USS STETHEM (DDG 63) home ported in San Diego, CA. While
serving in USS STETHEM, the ship was awarded the
Meritorious Unit Commendation award for its efforts in
testing and evaluation of the Tactical Tomahawk System.
From there he went on to serve on Commander Cruiser
Destroyer Group Five as the Material Officer embarked on
the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). While a member of the staff,
the NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP deployed in support of OPERATION
IRAQI FREEDOM for an extended deployment.
CDR Colemans shore duty assignments include the Naval
Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA where as a student he
earned a Master of Science in Applied Sciences. His next
shore assignment was as an instructor at Surface Warfare
Officer School, Newport, RI. He then attended the Naval
War College, Newport, RI where he received a Masters
Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
His most recent assignment was at the U.S. Forces Korea
headquarters, Seoul, South Korea, in the CJ-3 Operations
Directorate as the Branch Chief for Rear Area Plans. In
June 2006, he became the Executive Officer of the Naval
ROTC Unit, University of South Florida.
Commander Colemans personal awards include the Defense
Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service
Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (3) and various unit
and campaign awards. |
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Naval Reserve Officers Training - University of South Florida
