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USS Tortuga (LSD-46)

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CDR. Ethan M. Rule

Commander Rule enlisted in the Army in 1993. In 1999, he graduated from Seton Hall University and earned his commission in the Navy through Officer Candidate School in 2000.

His sea duty assignments include Division Officer tours as the Main Propulsion Officer on USS BATAAN (LHD 5) and Navigator on USS SEATTLE (AOE 3). On BATAAN, he completed two deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The SEATTLE deployed in support of OEF/OIF and steamed more than 62,000 miles during his tour. His first Department Head tour was as the Chief Engineer on USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44), where he oversaw the first LSD midlife overhaul. His next tour was as the Chief Engineer on USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17), where he completed a complex 18-month overhaul. His last sea tour was on USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19) as Executive Officer that included a U.S. Fifth and Sixth Fleet Deployment and an extended maintenance period. CDR Rule assumed command of USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD-41) in April 2016 prior to assuming command of USS TORTUGA (LSD-46) in December 2017.

His shore duty assignments include the Training Support Center (TSC) Hampton Roads as the Fleet Training Liaison Officer and Strike Force Training Atlantic. During his tour at TSC, he completed an Individual Augmentation in Afghanistan as an Electronic Warfare Officer. Following his Department Head tours, he served as Flag Secretary for Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic. He earned his Masters of Arts in Policy and Strategy from the U.S. Naval War College.

CDR Rule’s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6 awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards).

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