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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Ponce (LPD-15)

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CAPT. Jon P. Rodgers Jr. USN

Captain Jon P. Rodgers graduated from Cornell University in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture Engineering Technologies. Upon graduation, he received his commission as a Surface Warfare Officer.

His sea duty assignments include Division Officer tours in USS ENGLAND (CG 22) where he served as 1st Lieutenant and Boilers Officer. He served his Department Head tours in USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) as the plankowner Main Propulsion Assistant.

He received the Surface Navy Association’s Arleigh Burke award for Operational Excellence as the Operations and Material Officer on Amphibious Squadron THREE staff. He served as Executive Officer aboard USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7) during Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM as part of Amphibious Task Force West.

He served in Washington on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as future ships officer for the Director of Navy Expeditionary Warfare (OPNAV N75/N85). As Future Ships Officer he served as the resource sponsor for the LPD 17, LHD 8 and LHA 6 ACAT 1D programs. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Director for Warfare Integration (OPNAV N7F/N8F), and the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (OPNAV N1).

Captain Rodgers assumed Command of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron SIX in Portsmouth, Virginia where he led over 600 Active and Reserve Sailors on world-wide security missions that included the USNS COMFORT Theater Security Cooperation missions throughout South America. He served as Commander Task Unit Northern Arabian Gulf on the Iraq Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khor al-Amaya (KAAOT) Oil Terminals point defense mission. He served as the Director, Commander’s Action Group (CAG) for Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Subsequently he served as the J3 Chief of Staff, European Command, Stuttgart Germany.

In April 2012, he assumed command as the plankowner Commanding Officer of USS PONCE following her re-designation as the Navy’s first dedicated Forward Afloat Staging Base and transfer to Military Sealift Command. PONCE is forward deployed to Commander FIFTH Fleet filling a vital requirement to support a host of missions to include Airborne Mine Countermeasures and Patrol Coastal mothership duties.

Captain Rodgers attended the National Defense University, graduating with honors from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with a Masters of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy. He attended the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island with a Masters of Arts in National Security Strategy. He also graduated from the Defense Acquisition University where he participated in the Shipbuilding Industry Study. He studied shipbuilding processes and Government-Industry relations in over 30 domestic and foreign shipyards.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Defense Superior Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various theater/service awards.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo