Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 

Capt. John D. Alexander

Distinguished Engineer

2012

Degree

B.S., Mechanical Engineering – 1982

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 2012

Captain John D. Alexander is the commanding officer of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.

Alexander is a native of Port Neches, Texas. He was commissioned in December 1982 through the Aviation Officer Candidate program and designated as a Naval Flight Officer in November 1983. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering; King's College, University of London with a Master of Arts in defense studies; the Royal Naval Staff College Greenwich (UK); the U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program; the Joint Forces Staff College; and the Navy Executive Development Course from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

He completed sea duty assignments as an A-6E Bombardier/Navigator with the "Boomers" of VA 165 on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), the "Silver Foxes" of VA 155 on the USS Independence (CV 62), the Cruiser Destroyer Group 3 as Strike Operations Officer on the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and in the "Main Battery" of VA 196 for his aviation department head tour on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). After transition training in the EA-6B, he commanded the "Black Ravens" of VAQ 135 on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and additionally deployed to Incirlik, Turkey.

After those assignments, Alexander served as the executive officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and then subsequently commanded the Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS Juneau (LPD 10), which was forward deployed in Sasebo, Japan.

His shore duty assignments included instructor duty at the A-6E Fleet Replacement Squadron, VA 128; a tour as aide to the commander, Medium Attack, Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing Pacific; in-residence education at the Royal Naval Staff College, United Kingdom; a tour as head aviation commander assignments (PERS-431) at the Navy Personnel Command; and a joint tour as executive assistant to the director, Joint Staff.

Alexander has accumulated more than 3200 flight hours with 687 carrier-arrested landings. He was named Naval Flight Officer of the Year in 1994. In 1996, he presented the grand prize essay for the United Kingdom Naval History Contest. His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal (3 strike/flight awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

He and his wife Charlotte, who graduated from Texas Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, live in Everett, Washington and have two children: Andrew and Casey.

Return to the Past Winners page.