Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

John-Stevens-US-Navy-command

Full Text:

John Stevens, III, Gets A US Navy Command

Former Newtown resident John J. Stevens, III, has taken over as commanding

officer of the US Navy's fleet ballistic missile operational test support unit

two (FBM OTSU-II).

Commander Stevens, a 1971 Newtown High School graduate, relieved outgoing

commander, William A. Correllus at a ceremony May 7 on board the Submarine

Support Ship USNS Waters, home ported in Cape Canaveral, FL.

In his position as commander of FBM OTSU-II, Commander Stevens is embarked

upon the military sealift command ship USNS Waters . He is responsible for

successful accomplishment of a mission that is twofold in support of the

strategic submarine fleet. His at-sea mission includes support for the

development, testing, and evaluation of the strategic navigation systems and

procedures used on board the OHIO class nuclear fleet ballistic missile

submarines. Additionally, he is responsible for the provision of

communications, evaluation of range safety and the acquisition of missile

telemetry during submarine launched ballistic missile flight tests by the

United States and Great Britain.

After a standout varsity football career at NHS (where he played quarterback),

Commander Stevens began his naval career as an enlisted person. As a data

systems technician, he specialized in the maintenance and repair of submarine

torpedo fire control systems.

In 1982, he was ordered to the naval Officer Candidate School (OCS) in

Newport, Rhode Island, where he served as the regimental commander for his

class. In 1983, he was commissioned as an ensign.

Following OCS he attended the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, CT and

the Strategic Weapons Officer course at Guided Missile School in Virginia.

There, Commander Stevens studied the basics of submarine operation and the

technical and procedural tenets for operation of the missile system of the

nation's most survivable nuclear deterrent.

Upon graduation, Commander Stevens reported aboard the fleet ballistic missile

submarine USS James Madison where he completed four strategic deterrent

patrols and served as communications, missile, torpedo and sonar division

officer. In 1986, he transferred to USS Bonefish where he served as engineer

officer. He then attended the Submarine Officer Advanced Course. He graduated

in 1987 and reported to the fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Benjamin

Franklin as Strategic Weapons Officer, completing four strategic deterrent

patrols.

In 1991, Commander Stevens was selected for duty on the staff of Commander

Submarine Group SIX in Charleston, SC. He served as the group commander's

strategic weapons training Officer until receiving orders in 1992 to US Navy

diving and salvage officer school. There he completed qualification as a USN

basic and mixed gas deep sea diving officer, and USN salvage officer.

Later that year, he reported aboard USS ORTOLAN -- a submarine rescue and

salvage ship as executive officer. While onboard ORTOLAN he participated as a

diver in several salvage and experimental dive missions.

In 1995, Commander Stevens was assigned duty as a student at the Naval

Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. In 1996, he received his master of arts

degree in national security affairs, specializing in Russia and Eastern

Europe.

Upon graduation, and until recently, Commander Stevens served the chairman of

the Joint Chiefs as a strategic policy planner for the nuclear arms control

division of the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy. His

responsibilities included the negotiation of treaties related to reduction of

offensive strategic arms and nuclear non-proliferation, and the resolution of

contentious issues associated with the implementation and maintenance of these

treaties. Commander Stevens is currently being considered for designation as a

joint specialty officer and foreign area officer which, if selected, could

result in his assignment to foreign embassy or defense attache duty.

Commander Stevens is the son of John and Frances Stevens of Charleston, SC,

and he is married to the former Eileen Shanahan of Bethlemhem. Eileen, and

Stevens' two sons, John IV and George, reside in Mount Pleasant, SC, a suburb

of Charleston.