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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.- Popular Patch

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)

CAPT Kyle P. Higgins, USN
Commanding Officer

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A native of Port Jefferson, NY, Capt. Higgins graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1990. After serving aboard S.S. Cape Nome during Operation Desert Shield, he was designated a Naval Flight Officer in September 1992. Higgins’ fleet assignments include tours on both coasts. He began as an A-6E Bombardier/Navigator with the “Knightriders” of VA 52 embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). He then transitioned to the ES-3A and joined the VQ 5 “Sea Shadows” deploying aboard USS Constellation (CV 64). He transitioned again in September 2000 to the EA-6B Prowler and joined the “Zappers” of VAQ 130, flying combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). He served as Commanding Officer of the “Yellow Jackets” of VAQ 138 and as Executive Officer of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

His shore tours include attending the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Space Systems Operations. Higgins served on COMVAQWINGPAC staff as Requirements Officer and Chief Staff Officer. He also commanded Provincial Reconstruction Teams Parwan and Uruzgan, Afghanistan from October 2009 to November 2010, where he operated jointly with the Government of Afghanistan.

Accumulating more than 2,300 flight hours and 790 arrested landings, Higgins has numerous personal awards and various unit and campaign awards and was awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Carrier NFO of the Year Award for 2003.

Higgins reported as Commanding Officer of USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in January 2015.

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