February 2026 issue of The Destroyerman is now available – click image, or complete archives
New Issue of The Destroyerman
Tag Archives: ARLEIGH BURKE
Shipmate in the News – RADM (ret) Tom Anderson
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 spotlighted by CNSL
Loss of a Success Contributor – William Haggett
Former Bath Iron Works President William “Bill” Haggett, who led the shipyard from 1981 to 1992, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Haggett led BIW through some of its most significant program changes, including the successful competition to become the follow yard in producing Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the critical competition to become the lead yard for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the DDG 51s that have become the longest running Navy shipbuilding program.
https://x.com/GDBIW/status/1897043252760436846
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.
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
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.
Red Sea Incident Investigators: Beware the Fallacy of Hobson’s Choice
“Weakening the authority of commanding officers to exercise their best judgment in the fog of combat should not be an outcome of the Red Sea investigation.“
By Vice Admiral John Morgan, U.S. Navy (Retired) and Captain John Esposito, U.S. Navy (Retired)
January 2025 – Proceedings – Vol. 151/1/1,463
Read at USNI.org
Loss of a Shipmate – GMC (SW) Gordon Dale Mathis
The Association has recently learned of the passing of Gordon Dale Mathis, GMC (SW), Plankowner.
Funeral service is Wednesday, January 8th at 2:00 PM at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk Virginia.
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 
USS Arleigh Burke Association 