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USS Mississippi CGN-40 Official Crew Website
Maintained by Jose Diaz
All Commanding Officers
VADM Peter M. Hekman
5 August 1978-2 July 1980
RADM Raynor A.K. Taylor
2 July 1980-22 July 1983
RADM Philip R. Olson
22 July 1983-3 October 1986
RADM Michael W. Bordy
8 October 1986-30 June 1989
CAPT Don P. Pollard
30 June 1989-1 August 1992
CAPT William J. Laz
1 August 1992-21 May 1995
CAPT Lawrence A. Lewandowski
21 May 1995-31 July 1997
Only a seaman realizes to what extent an entire ship relects the personality and ability of one individual...her Commanding Officer. To a landsman, this
concept is difficult to understand, and for us mariners, it may be hard to comprehend, but it is so.
A ship at sea is a different world unto herself. In consideration of the protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power,
responsibility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command.
In each ship, there is one man who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one man who alone is ultimately
responsible for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire, and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Officer. HE IS THE SHIP!
This assignment is the most demanding and difficult in the Navy. There is not an instant during his tour as Commanding Officer that he can escape the grasp of
command responsibility. His privileges in lieu of his obligations are ludicrously small; nevertheless, this is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders.
It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time-honored title of the seafaring world...CAPTAIN!
Joseph Conrad
