Crew – USS Arleigh Burke Association

Loss of a Shipmate

The Association has recently learned of the passing of OSC (SW) Teddy Dewayne Easter, Plankowner

A Celebration Of Life will be held Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 4:00PM – 6:00PM, at Ocean Lakes Clubhouse, 881 Old Dam Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

DDG51 Officer Receives SNA Arleigh Burke Award

LCDR Lindsey Boyle, DDG51 Plans and Tactics Officer, was recognized with the Admiral Arleigh Burke Surface Warfare Operational Excellence Award – Officer East at the Surface Navy Association Jan 2025 National Symposium.

The award was presented by VADM Vice Adm. Brendan McLane and Rear Adm. Joseph Cahill.

These awards recognize Surface Warriors who are leaders in their fields.

RADM Cahill (CNSL) – LCDR Lindsey Boyle (DDG51)

Arleigh Burke Sailor selected MDAA Navy Missile Defender of the Year

FCA1 Julian Smith was selected as the US Navy Awardee for the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance 2024 Missile Defender of the Year

Riki Ellison, FCA1 Julian Smith, ADM James Kilby

This is a special night where we gather annually here in the National Capital Region to recognize the best of the best in the missile defense profession. On January 17th in Alexandria Virginia, the 15th annual Missile Defender of the Year awards ceremony took place. In the National Security area, 2024 has been the biggest and most consequential year for missile defense in our history.

United States Navy

Awardee: Fire Controlman Petty Officer 1st Class Julian Smith

Presented by Admiral James Kilby

Recognized for:

Fire Controlman Petty Officer 1st Class Julian Smith distinguished himself for this award by “Revolutionizing fleet tactics,” fundamentally changing the execution of BMD missions. By spearheading this tactical development, he played a critical role in the advancement of tactics, techniques, and procedures at the Task Force and numbered Fleet Commander level, showcasing performance far above what is expected of a first-class petty officer.
https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/alert/2024-missile-defender-of-the-year/

Awardees receive one of Riki Ellison’s trademark MDAA footballs (if they can catch a throw from a linebacker). Riki was a national championship winning linebacker with USC, then winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers, before working with Dr Edward Teller in early National Missile Defense and later founding the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

Change of Command

Commander Ethan Reber relieved Commander Tyrchra Bowman as Commanding Officer on December 19, 2024.

Fair Winds and Following Seas to Commander Bowman, who led the ship through two successful FDNF-E deployments, including the first SM-3 operational employment. We look forward to continued success of Arleigh Burke under the leadership of Commander Reber.

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Dec. 19, 2024) Cmdr. Tyrchra Bowman, the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), gives remarks at the ship’s change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 19, 2024. As the “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” NAVSTA Rota provides U.S, NATO and allied forces a strategic hub for operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. NAVSTA Rota is a force multiplier, capable of promptly deploying and supporting combat-read
NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Dec. 19, 2024) Cmdr. Tyrchra Bowman, the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), left, shakes hands with Cmdr. Ethan Reber, the prospective commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke, after giving remarks during the ship’s change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 19, 2024. As the “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” NAVSTA Rota provides U.S, NATO and allied forces a strategic hub for operations in Europe, Africa a