JFK CO: headed to Kitty Hawk
Capt. Todd Zecchin, commander of the soon-to-be decommissioned USS John F. Kennedy, is headed to Japan to command the USS Kitty Hawk, he told me a few minutes ago.
“In fact the orders came in when we were in Boston,” Zecchin said. The ship was there for a port call March 1-7.
Zecchin said he will remain with the JFK through its March 23 decommissioning ceremony at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville.
Like the Kennedy, Kitty Hawk is a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier that is slated for decommissioning, though Zecchin said he doesn’t know when that will happen.
GlobalSecurity.org, which covers defense-related topics, says the carrier is due for replacement as early as 2008.
Unlike his current command, he said Kitty Hawk still conducts flight operations.
Zecchin joked about having back-to-back commands of ships headed for mothballs.
“They’ll call me ‘the closer’ – go get the kid out of the bullpen,” Zecchin said during a tour of his quarters aboard Kennedy, which is currently steaming from Boston to Jacksonville on its final voyage.
Zecchin took command of Kennedy in May 2006. His executive officer, Capt. Ronald Robinson, will be the officer in charge of the ship after its decommissioning, Zecchin said.
“In fact the orders came in when we were in Boston,” Zecchin said. The ship was there for a port call March 1-7.
Zecchin said he will remain with the JFK through its March 23 decommissioning ceremony at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville.
Like the Kennedy, Kitty Hawk is a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier that is slated for decommissioning, though Zecchin said he doesn’t know when that will happen.
GlobalSecurity.org, which covers defense-related topics, says the carrier is due for replacement as early as 2008.
Unlike his current command, he said Kitty Hawk still conducts flight operations.
Zecchin joked about having back-to-back commands of ships headed for mothballs.
“They’ll call me ‘the closer’ – go get the kid out of the bullpen,” Zecchin said during a tour of his quarters aboard Kennedy, which is currently steaming from Boston to Jacksonville on its final voyage.
Zecchin took command of Kennedy in May 2006. His executive officer, Capt. Ronald Robinson, will be the officer in charge of the ship after its decommissioning, Zecchin said.
posted by Jeff at
4:59 PM
3 Comments:
being a plank owner on both the John F Kennedy, and the Kitty Hawk, i wish Capt Zecchin on his next assignment the best of luck. both were very good ships for me. during my tours of duty.
BJ -- a plank owner on both? that's amazing. What kind of jobs did you have aboard the two ships? Also I am curious: I know the Kitty Hawk and Kennedy are the only oil-fired carriers in the Navy, but in what major ways do they differ? Thanks for reading and for writing in.
hi jeff: i was married on the 31 july 1960, in macclenny, florida, pick up orders to the kitty hawk on 1 aug. 60 (short honeymoon!) reported to naval station norfolk on the pre-com detail. after the mandatory fire fighting, damage control etc. schools i was assigned to the ships TF-1 (later to be called C1A crew) i reported aboard as an E-3 (airman) after the ship was commissioned i was assigned to GSE (all the yellow gear you saw on the kennedy) advanced to ADR2 (E-5)was again assigned to the TF-1 crew as plane captain. One of my supervisors CPO johnson, stands out most, he pushed, shoved, kicked, what ever it took he did, i grew up real quick under his direction today i am glad he did!
the first cruise was around south america to san fransico, then to san diego, work up , then to a west pac cruise, (nine months) back to the states started another west pac. cruise got to japan, transfred back to cecil field.....
both ships were good for me and my family. however, the jfk was my choice because of the officers, and men on board. on the kennedy i was assigned to the ship while it was being built at new port news, my responsibility was over seeing the installation of the jet air start system, intalled on the flight deck for servicing and starting the jets. was on board when both were commissioned. the very best capt. that i ever served under was Capt Yates, 1st commanding officer of the kennedy. one heck of a gentleman, very fair and very firm. will be on board for the de commissioning. b.j.
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