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Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS INDEPENDENCE   (CVA-62)
(later CV-62)

Commanding Officers
Captain Rhodam Yarrott McElroy, Jr. ? 10 January 1959 – 3 October 1959 RADM
Captain James Wadsworth O'Grady USNA 1936 3 October 1959 – 15 October 1960 VADM
Captain Harvey Peter Lanham ? 15 October 1960 – 22 September 1961 RADM
Captain Evan Peter Aurand USNA 1938 22 September 1961 – 2 September 1962 VADM
Captain Leroy V. ("Roy") Swanson USNR 1939 2 September 1962 – 23 August 1963 RADM
Captain James David ("Jig Dog") Ramage USNA 1939 23 August 1963 – 31 July 1964 RADM
Captain Robert Wilkes ("Duke") Windsor, Jr. USNA 1942 31 July 1964 – 11 August 1965
Captain John Eugene ("Blackie") Kennedy USNA 1940 11 August 1965 – 25 August 1966 (1)
Captain John P. Fox USNA 1941 25 August 1966 – 8 July 1967
Captain Clarence Arthur Hill, Jr. ? 8 July 1967 – 2 September 1968 RADM
Captain Herbert Spencer Matthews, Jr. ? 2 September 1968 – 14 August 1969 RADM
Captain Bernard Brown Forbes, Jr. ? 14 August 1969 – 19 August 1970 VADM
Captain Gerald Gerrard ("Gerry") O'Rourke USNA 1944 (2) 19 August 1970 – 9 October 1971
Captain William Newell Small ? 9 October 1971 – 1 December 1972 ADM
Captain Carl Ray Smith, Jr. ? 1 December 1972 – 25 June 1974 RADM
Captain William B. Warwick ? 25 June 1974 – 24 June 1975 RADM
Captain James Edward ("Jim") Service NAVCAD 1950 24 June 1975 – 29 March 1977 VADM
Captain George M. ("Skip") Furlong, Jr. USNA 1956 29 March 1977 – 9 September 1978 RADM
Captain Thomas Campbell ("Tom") Watson, Jr. ? 9 September 1978 – 28 May 1980 RADM
Captain Thomas Edward Shanahan ? 28 May 1980 – 5 December 1981
Captain Jerry C. ("Felter") Breast NROTC 1959 5 December 1981 – 7 June 1983 RADM
Captain William Adam Dougherty, Jr. ? 7 June 1983 – 29 October 1984 VADM
Captain Kenneth Leroy Carlsen ? 29 October 1984 – 28 July 1986 RADM
Captain William Ray Needham ? 28 July 1986 – 24 February 1989
Captain Thomas S. Slater ? 24 February 1989 – 14 July 1990 RADM
Captain Robert Lee Ellis, Jr. ? 14 July 1990 – 21 December 1991 RADM
Captain Carter Beaumont Refo ? 21 December 1991 – 6 July 1993
Captain Dennis Wayne Irelan ? 6 July 1993 – 25 January 1995
Captain David Pierce Polatty III ? 25 January 1995 – 5 August 1996 RADM
Captain Tom Steven Fellin ? 5 August 1996 – 12 August 1997
Captain Mark Reed Milliken USNA 1975 12 August 1997 – 30 September 1998 RADM

(1)  CAPT John E. Lacouture was in temporary command, 26–29 October 1965, while CAPT Kennedy was on bereavement leave. CAPT LaCouture had been CO of USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 28 September 1963–2 October 1964, and in October 1965 was Chief of Staff to RADM James R. Reedy, CTF-77. (Back.)

(2)  Graduated on 7 June 1944 as a member of the Class of 1945. (Back.)

Thanks to Robert M. Cieri; Ron Reeves & Wolfgang Hechler

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Last update: 30 August 2009