Christening Ceremony
The christening took place on Saturday, 2 June 2007 at Northrop Grumman Ship
Systems, Pascagoula, Miss.
Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi delivered the ceremony's principal address.
Fourth generation great-granddaughters, Susan Scott Martin(left) and Carol
Leigh Roelker, served as co-sponsors of the ship. In accordance with Navy
tradition, they broke a bottle of champagne across the ship's bow and
christen the ship in the name of Truxtun.
Pre-commissioning Unit
CO, Timothy R. Weber
Commander, United States Navy
Commander Weber is a native of Decatur, Georgia and a 1990 graduate of
Vanderbilt University. After completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in
Applied Mathematics and receiving his commission via Vanderbilt’s NROTC
program, Commander Weber’s initial assignment was in Mayport, FL where he
served as Electrical/Auxiliaries Officer and Main Propulsion Assistant aboard
USS FLATLEY (FFG 21). This was followed by a tour at the Naval Postgraduate
School in Monterey, CA where he received a Master of Science degree in Applied
Mathematics.
Following Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course in 1996, Commander
Weber was assigned to USS TAYLOR (FFG 50) as Chief Engineer. He remained in
this billet for 24-months, completing a deployment with the JOHN F. KENNEDY
Battle Group and with Standing NATO Forces Mediterranean. He then transferred
to CINCLANTFLT Propulsion Examining Board, where he served as an Engineering
Space Assessor for another 24-month tour.
Following his Engineering tours, Commander Weber served as the Department Head
Assignment Officer for PERS-41 at Naval Personnel Command, Millington, TN. In
the summer of 2002, he transferred to Pearl Harbor, HI, where he served as
Executive Officer in USS PORT ROYAL (CG 73). While in PORT ROYAL, he deployed
with the inaugural Expeditionary Strike Group One in support of Operation
ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He served as Area and Ship
Self-Defense Section Head on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations
(OPNAV N86), Washington, DC from July 2004 to July 2007.
Commander Weber’s current assignment as Commanding Officer, USS TRUXTUN (DDG
103) currently being built in Pascagoula, Mississippi by Northrop Grumman Ship
Systems.
Commander Weber's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy
Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy Marine Corps
Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.
XO, Sherry L Smith
Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy
Lieutenant Commander Smith is a native of Floyd, New York and a 1994 graduate
of Nazareth College of Rochester. After completion of a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Modern Foreign Languages and receiving her commission via the
University of Rochester’s NROTC program, Lieutenant Commander Smith’s initial
assignment was in Earle, NJ where she served as Communications Officer then
Auxiliaries Officer aboard USS SEATTLE (AOE 3). During this time the SEATTLE
completed a deployment to the Arabian Gulf and Adriatic Sea. Following this
tour, she went to Mayport, FL where she served as Combat Information Center
Officer aboard USS JOHN HANCOCK (DD 981). During this time the JOHN HANCOCK
completed a Mediterranean Deployment including three months as part of Standing
Naval Forces Mediterranean. She next transferred to Service School Command,
Great Lakes, where she served as the Director of Electronic Strand Division and
Combat Systems Assistant Officer in Charge.
Following Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course in 2001, Lieutenant
Commander Smith was assigned to USS SACRAMENTO (AOE 1) as Operations Officer.
She remained in this billet for 24-months, completing a deployment with the
CARL VINSON Strike Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and a Western
Pacific Deployment. Lieutenant Commander Smith’s second department head tour
was as Operations Officer aboard USS VALLEY FORGE (CG 50). Prior to
decommissioning the VALLEY FORGE, she completed a counter-narcotics deployment.
She then transferred to COMCARSTRKGRU TWELVE, where she served as Assistant
Surface Operations Officer. During this 18 month tour, she also completed a
six month individual augment to the Office for the Administrative Review of the
Detention of Enemy Combatants as a case writer.
Lieutenant Commander Smith graduated from the Naval War College receiving a
Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Policy. She also
completed the Naval Operational Planners Course while at the NWC.
Lieutenant Commander Smith’s personal awards include the Navy Marine Corps
Commendation Medal (three awards), the Joint Services Achievement Medal, and
the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit and
campaign awards.
Commissioning Ceremony
The Secretary of the Navy has approved the selection of the location of
the commissioning to be Charleston, South Carolina. The commissioning
date of 25 April 2009 has been confirmed by SecNav.
If you wish to attend the commissioning ceremonies, be sure we have an
up-to-date postal address. If you are an Association Member we need your
postal address to be sure you receive a formal invitation from the ship
builder. Send your address to: Secretary
TruxtunAssn.org
