USS Kauffman (FFG-59)

USS Kauffman (FFG-59), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman (1887–1963) and his son, Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman (1911–1979), both experts in sub-surface naval missions.

Kauffman was laid down on 8 April 1985 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched on 29 March 1986; sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Kauffman Bush the daughter of Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman; and commissioned on 28 February 1987 at Bath, Maine, Commander John C. Dranchak, USN in command. As of 2012, Kauffman is captained by Commander William K. Shafley, III, USN, homeported at NS Norfolk, Virginia, and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 22.

Milestones
Note: the milestones are extracted from the official command histories and no other sources. The set of command histories available is not complete, resulting in the partial record following.

1988

 * 6 January – 28 May: 4100 ton modifications by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine
 * 12 August: BM3 Kerekgyarto died instantly when the Slewing Arm Davit broke from its mount and fell on him.

1989

 * 7 April: Commander Ronald C. Bogle, USN relieves Commander John C. (30 knot)Dranchak, USN
 * 31 May – 10 November: Maiden deployment, Med 3–89
 * 4—7 August: Sevastapol, USSR port visit
 * 13 September – 3 October: NATO exercise Display Determination-89

1990

 * 9 January: presented with Battle 'E'
 * 15 January – 15 March: ships restricted availability, #1A gas turbine generator and the Mk. 75 76mm gun mount are replaced
 * 8–15 June: BALTOPS-90

1991

 * 5 April: Commander James H. Chapman Jr., USN relieves Commander Ronald C. Bogle, USN
 * 26 April – 26 October: deployment, MEF 2–91
 * 4 June – 16 September: Middle East Force (MEF) operations in the Persian Gulf

1992

 * 6 January – 21 February: counter narcotic operations, Caribbean Sea
 * towed a vessel that had lost propulsion 250 NM to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
 * rescued the crew from the striken 237 ft coastal freighter Ramsli just before she sank
 * 2 August – 23 October: Ships Restricted Availability (Drydock), by Bath Iron Works Bath, Maine
 * 15 September: presented with Battle 'E'
 * 18 December: Commander James F. Deppe, USN relieves Commander James H. Chapman Jr., USN

1993

 * 11 March – 8 September: deployed, Med 2–93
 * 29 April – 18 June: Operation Deny Flight in the Adriatic Sea, Operation Maritime Guard
 * 22 June – 17 August: Maritime Interdiction Operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq, North Red Sea
 * 7 November: provided assistance to the Argentine frigate ARA Granville (P-33) while in port at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico
 * 9 November – 6 December: counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea

1994

 * 13 May – 3 June: Maritime Interception Operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Haiti
 * 6 June: Homeport shift from Newport, Rhode Island to Norfolk, Virginia
 * 1 July – 1 August: Operation Support Democracy, Haiti with 3 US Army OH-58 Kiowa helicopters
 * 5—6 July: rescued 787 migrants from Haitian waters, transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
 * 20—21 July: towed the Motor Vessel Valerie I from the south coast of Haiti to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
 * 9 September: Commander David F. Britt, USN relives Commander James F. Deppe, USN

1996

 * 24 April: completion of an extended ships restricted availability period beginning September 1995, including installation of Mod 6 to the Mk 92 Guided Missile Fire Control System
 * 8 July – 24 August: counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
 * 20 September: Commander John A. Kunert, USN relives Commander David F. Britt, USN
 * 10—31 December: Operation Carib Shield – counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea

1997

 * 1—17 January: Operation Carib Shield – counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
 * 4 March – 24 June: ships restricted availability (drydock) by Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company

1998

 * 6 March: Commander George J. Karol II, USN relieves Commander John A. Kunert, USN
 * 13 March – 11 September: deployed, Med (originally tasked to Middle East Force)
 * 12 October – 11 December: planned restricted availability

1999

 * 27 August: Commander Rigoberto Sáez-Ortiz, USN relieves Commander John A. Kunert, USN
 * 15—18 September: sortied for Hurricane Dennis

2004

 * 15 July – 22 September: ships restricted availability, installed Mk 53 "Nulka" Decoy Launching System (DLS)
 * 31 August: Commander Kenneth A. Krogman, USN relieves Commander John P. Gelinne, USN

Commanding officers
Note: unless otherwise referenced, information has been sourced from the official command histories.
 * 28 February 1987 — 7 April 1989: Commander John C. Dranchak, USN
 * 7 April 1989 – 5 April 1991: Commander Ronald C. Bogle, USN
 * 5 April 1991 – 18 December 1992: Commander James H. Chapman Jr., USN
 * 18 December 1992 – 9 September 1994: Commander James F. Deppe, USN
 * 9 September 1994 – 20 September 1996: Commander David F. Britt, USN
 * 20 September 1996 – 6 March 1998: Commander John A. Kunert, USN
 * 6 March 1998 – 27 August 1999: Commander George J. Karol III, USN
 * 27 August 1999 — (unknown): Commander Rigoberto Sáez-Ortiz, USN
 * May 2001 (est) — 28 February 2003: Commander Mark Reagan Hagerott
 * 28 February 2003 — 31 August 2004: Commander John P. Gelinne, USN
 * 31 August 2004 — (unknown), at 30 September 2005 : Commander Kenneth A. Krogman, USN
 * at 27 November 2006 and at 12 March 2007: Commander Chris Rhoden, USN
 * at 7 April 2008 and at 16 November 2008  — 8 June 2009 : Commander Robert Cepek
 * 8 June 2009 — (unknown) : Commander Dale W. Maxey, USN
 * present: Commander William K. Shafley III, USN