USS Stethem (DDG-63)

USS Stethem (DDG-63) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, starting on 11 May 1993. The ship was commissioned on 21 October 1995 and is based out of Yokosuka, Japan. The ship is named for Steelworker 2nd Class Robert Stethem, who was a Navy sailor killed by terrorists in Lebanon in the 1980s. Stethem has operated throughout the Pacific Ocean, as well as on deployments to the Persian Gulf. She remains on active duty, assigned to the Pacific Fleet, as of 2012.

Ship history
USS Stethem (DDG 63) is the 13th Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer. Construction of the Stethem began on 18 May 1992 with the ship's keel being laid down at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi on 11 May 1993. She was launched on 17 June 1994 and was christened Stethem on 16 July 1994 by Mrs. Patricia L. Stethem, the mother of the ship's namesake: Steelworker Second Class (SW2) Robert Stethem, the United States Navy Seabee diver murdered in Beirut during the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 in 1985. The vessel then transited the Panama Canal and was officially commissioned on 21 October 1995 in Port Hueneme, California. On 15 February 1996 she successfully completed her Post Delivery Test and Trials and was thus cleared for combat operations. She was assigned to her home port, San Diego, California.

First deployment
On the night of 23 November 1996 the ship was diverted for a Search and Rescue mission to recover survivors from a downed U.S. Air Force C-130 off the coast of northern California. In the company of two smaller boats Stethem patrolled the area around the crash for some twenty hours while engaged in recovery efforts, which earned the destroyer the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal; additionally she was recognized for her spectacular achievements during her first year of service by winning the 1996 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award. On 4 April 1997 Commander Steven Miller was relieved by Commander James O'Keefe III, and shortly thereafter Stethem set sail for the Persian Gulf on her maiden overseas deployment, reporting for duty in Bahrain on 3 July. During the next three months she served in a variety of roles including the primary Air Warfare Commander, Surface Warfare Commander, Ready Strike Platform, and LINK Coordinator. She also provided support to both the USS Constellation (CV-64) and the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Battle Groups and several U.S. Air Force aircraft engaged in Operation Southern Watch. She also supported the United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iraq by conducting some 54 boardings and inspections of suspected sanctions violators.

Stethem's port visits during her deployment included Singapore, Malaysia, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Perth and Sydney. She finally returned to San Diego on 7 November 1997 to begin an inter-deployment training cycle, the second one undertaken by the ship.

Beginning with an outstanding Command Assessment of Readiness for Training (CART II) in May 1998, Stethem single handedly set the standard for tailored training by demonstrating exceptional proficiency in Combat Systems, Navigation, Engineering, Mobility, Damage Control, and Logistics Management. Her training teams' mission readiness commitment resulted in the validation of all the Final Evaluation Period objectives during the Tailored Shipboard Training Availability Phase III (TSTA III) – a first for any surface combatant. On 25 September 1998 Commander O'Keefe was relieved as the Commanding Officer by Commander Gerard Hueber.

Second deployment
Stethem began her second deployment to the Persian Gulf 16 April 1999, sailing as part of the Middle East Force 99-2. After port visits to Guam, Saipan, Singapore, and Thailand, she reported for duty in the Persian Gulf and rapidly went to work conducting freedom of navigation operations and maritime interception operations, much as she had done on her first deployment. During her seventy-six days on station she served as an air warfare commander, a ready strike platform, and a force over-the-horizon track coordinator. Stethem also had the opportunity to support the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Battle Group as a carrier escort and a plane guard. After serving as command ship for Northern Persian Gulf Maritime Interception Operations for a second time, she transited the Strait of Hormuz on 13 August, and arrived home in San Diego 4 October 1999.

In January Stethem was honored for her achievements and was once more awarded with the 1999 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award. She was the recipient of the Raytheon CIWS Award, the Pacific Force Retention Award, and the Safety Award.

In mid-September 2000, during a port visit in San Francisco, Stethem was called out to sea by the Joint Interagency Task Force (West) to escort the fishing vessel Gran Tauro to San Diego. The Gran Tauro had been caught with over five metric tons of uncut cocaine aboard, with a total net worth of over $500 million. After completing this escort the ship returned to conducting final preparations for its next deployment. In January the ship was awarded with the 2000 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award for the second consecutive year.

Third deployment and maintenance
On 13 January 2001 she departed on her third deployment to the Persian Gulf, this time as part of MEF 01-1. After port visits to Hawaii, Guam, Singapore, and Thailand, Stethem reported in with the Fifth Fleet on 28 February 2001. During her sixty-eight days on station in the Persian Gulf she conducted maritime interception operations, served as the air warfare commander, supported Operation Southern Watch, served as a ready strike platform, and participated in two international naval exercises, Exercise Arabian Gauntlet and Exercise Neon Falcon. During her maritime interception operations the Stethem successfully intercepted the motor vessel Diamond, which resulted in the third largest arrest of an oil-smuggling sanctions violator since the Persian Gulf War. Stethem also escorted the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman through the Strait of Hormuz on 27 April before departing for the United States. The ship arrived home in San Diego on 28 June.

After enjoying a Post-Oversees Movement Stand-down, the Stethem supported the John C. Stennis and her Battle Group as an opposing force during their final battle problem. In early September she went through INSURV inspections and set the standard once again. She was conducting her INSURV on 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked New York City and Washington, D.C., and shortly thereafter, Stethem was called into station in support of Operation Noble Eagle and tasked with conducting air surveillance of the approaches to San Diego and providing air defense coverage to vital shipping assets.

On 30 September Stethem entered into drydock for her third Selective Restricted Availability at the Southwest Marine and Continental Maritime Shipyards. The purpose of this nine-week availability was the installation of equipment enhancements and quality of life upgrades. Stethem was also tapped to be the lead ship for the testing of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS), which represents the next generation of strike warfare capability. She departed drydock on 30 October, and was moved to the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego.

Fourth deployment and periodic training
Her return to Naval Station San Diego on 6 December marked the end of the 9.4 million dollar refurbishment and refitting period. The destroyer got underway the following week to begin the work up for her next deployment, and on 14 December, She began her holiday leave and stand down period. The crew assembled in mid-January 2002 to continue efforts in support of her inter-deployment training cycle and Tactical Tomahawk testing. In early February, Stethem anchored off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; this was the first foreign port visit by any U.S. naval combatant since the terrorist attacks on America on 11 September 2001.

In the ensuing months Stethem embarked on her third Inter Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) and served as Command Destroyer Squadron 23’s flagship throughout the month of February. In March, Stethem completed the Command Assessment of Readiness for Training II (CART II). Between the weeks of 1 April and 3 May 2002, Stethem completed the Tailored Ship’s Training Availability period. On 6 May Stethem served as the opposition forces for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) carrier battle group’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

In early June, Stethem earned her seventh Engineering Command excellence award as a result of outstanding performance during the Engineering Underway Demonstration. On 8–12 July, she commenced a supply management assessment which was upgraded to an inspection because of her exemplary combat logistics readiness. Returning to the site of her commissioning in 1995, at the end of July, Stethem took part in the 60th Anniversary of Seabee Days in Port Hueneme, California, in honor of her namesake. She then transited to Everett, Washington, embarked families and friends for the short transit to participate in the Seattle Seafair Festival. On 12 September 2002, Stethem was given the distinct privilege of leading the Parade of Sail into San Diego Bay. In the beginning of October, Stethem occupied a place of honor downtown at Broadway Pier as part of San Diego’s Fleet Week Celebration. While at Broadway Pier, Stethem safely hosted the first public Navy ship tours in San Diego after the 11 September attacks. Soon afterward, on 16 October, Stethem successfully launched the first Tomahawk Cruise Missile using the new Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). At the end of October, Stethem once again played the role of opposition force, this time for the Constellation carrier battle group.

In January 2003, Stethem played the opposition force role for the Nimitz carrier battle group. On 5 February 2003, Stethem returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for another port visit. Working with the San Diego and Puerto Vallarta Navy League Chapters, Stethem delivered medical equipment for distribution to handicapped residents of Puerto Vallarta. The crew also painted the local library frequented by many of Puerto Vallarta’s school children. On 5 April 2003, Stethem successfully performed the first ever surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile, bringing it one big step closer to fleet introduction. This was followed up on 8 May with the first surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile with a live warhead. After the missile left the launcher, Stethem's strike team became the first to demonstrate Tactical Tomahawk’s post launch execution capability when they redirected the missile in flight. Both the team and the missile performed flawlessly, completely destroying the intended target on San Clemente Island after over 2 hours and 700 miles of missile flight.

On 14 May, after a two-week intermediate maintenance availability, Stethem sailed in support of a different kind of missile-firing exercise. During this exercise Stethem's air warfare team engaged two airborne targets with Standard Missiles. After this successful engagement, Stethem celebrated by transiting north to Juneau, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. All of the crew took advantage of great opportunities for sightseeing and shopping.

Returning from her trek up North in June, Stethem rested for one week and then put back to sea to serve as the opposition force against Pacific Fleet's first Expeditionary Strike Group, which was headed up by USS Peleliu.

Stethem returned to homeport from a port visit in Hong Kong on 6 December 2006.

Current chain-of-command
Commander Adams received his commission and a Bachelor’s degree in History from the United States Naval Academy in 1996. He earned a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College (College of Distance Education) in 2010.
 * Commanding Officer (CO): CDR Christopher Adams

At-sea assignments include First Lieutenant, Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Air Defense Officer, Assistant Combat Systems Officer, and Administration Officer in USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), and Weapons and Combat Systems Officer in USS PORT ROYAL (CG 53).

Shore-duty assignments include service as Aide/Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific; Deputy Ballistic Missile Defense Operations Officer at Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Branch Chief for Air and Missile Defense at Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command.

Lieutenant Commander John F. Bradford received his commission and a Bachelors Degree in Government and Asian Studies from Cornell University in 1997. He received a Masters degree from the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore in 2004.
 * Executive Officer (XO): LCDR John Bradford

At-sea assignments include First Lieutenant in USS JOHN S. MCAIN (DDG 56), Navigator in USS FORT MCHENRY (LSD 43), and Engineer Officer and Combat System Officer in USS Stethem (DDG 63).

Shore-duty assignments include service as Country Director for Japan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Asia-Pacific Politico-military Desk Officer on the Navy Staff (OPNAV N52), and Assistant Plans Officer on the Commander Naval Forces Japan staff. He also studied Indonesian at the Defense Language Institute and undertook graduate studies at a number of Southeast Asian universities as an Olmsted Scholar.

Master Chief Kunzweiler enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 21 June 1989 and completed recruit training in Orlando, Florida.
 * Command Master Chief (CMC): CMDCM(SW/AW) Todd Kunzweiler

At-sea assignments include Weapons Technician onboard USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69), Independent Duty Intelligence Specialist and Electronic Warfare Division Leading Petty Officer onboard USS RUSSELL (DDG 59), and Carrier Intelligence Center Division Leading Chief Petty Officer and Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68).

Shore duty assignments include All-Source Intelligence Analyst at Fleet Ocean Surveillance Information Facility, Rota, Spain, Imagery Analyst and Civil Maritime Current Operations Division Leading Petty Officer, Intelligence Directorate, at Office of Naval Intelligence, Suitland, Maryland, and First Phase Indications and Warnings Operations Chief, Executive Assistant, Directorate of Operations, and Non-commissioned Officer In-charge Targeting Support Branch, Korea Division, at Joint Intelligence Center Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He is a graduate of the United States Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 172, Gray Group and the CMC/COB Course, Class 116. He is Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualified.

In media

 * The Stethem appeared in 2012 Japanese anime movie, 009 RE:Cyborg, where this version of the ship is a Flight IIA variant. In the film, the Stethem's was participating in a military exercise where its Executive Office was influnenced by terrorist to fire the ship's cruise missiles at a building in Tokyo, Japan.