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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20)

Captain Cassidy "Dudley" Norman, USN
Commanding Officer

Captain Cassidy “Dudley” Norman is from Texas. After completing the Cooperative Engineering Education Program, he graduated from the University of Texas in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and a year’s worth of work experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Soon after, he was commissioned as a Naval Officer at the Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida.

His operational tours included flying with the VFA-192 “Golden Dragons” aboard the USS Independence (CV 62) and the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) supporting Operation SOUTHERN WATCH on two separate cruises. In 2004, serving as Strike Operations Officer for Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, Captain Norman integrated the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition while on cruise on the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2005, Captain Norman joined the VFA-136 “Knighthawks” and served as the Maintenance Officer, Safety Officer, and Operations Officer during two successive cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Captain Norman then joined the VFA-83 “Rampagers” and served as executive officer and commanding officer. The Rams deployed in 2009 and again in 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). After completing the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program, he served as Executive Officer of the USS Harry S. Truman for two cruises in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. During his tour, the USS Harry S. Truman was the first ship in 10 years to conduct combat operations from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the first aircraft carrier in 10 years to depart Norfolk Naval Shipyard on time, and the flagship of the first strike group to conduct Dynamic Force Employment.

Ashore, he attended US Naval Test Pilot School before completing a tour with the VX-30 “Bloodhounds” in Point Mugu, CA, where he served as the Navy’s AMRAAM and ITALD Project Officer and test pilot for over 40 weapons test programs. In Washington, D.C., from 2012 to 2014, he served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J8), where he supported several Strategic Seminars and Interagency war games for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2018, he also served as the Chief of Staff for Navy Warfare Development Command in Norfolk, VA.

Captain Norman has logged 698 traps and 116 combat missions in the F/A-18C and more than 2,900 flight hours in 42 different types of aircraft. He earned a Master of Science Degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee in 2003 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2008. His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals and various unit and campaign decorations.

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