Last modified Wed., January 09, 2008 - 05:03 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 10, 2008

Doyle Crew Welcomes Zuzich As New Skipper

By Ensign Jason Bilbro, USS Doyle PAO

Cmdr. John Zuzich

On Jan. 4, the crew of USS Doyle (FFG 39) gathered on the flight deck, along with friends and distinguished guests, as Cmdr. Michael Elliott turned over command of Doyle to Cmdr. John Zuzich, the ship's 15th commanding officer.

Commodore Thomas L. Reese, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14 was the guest speaker for the event. Reese spoke highly of Elliott's accomplishments during his tour as commanding officer, praising his "innovative leadership," and wishing him great success in his following tour.

Elliott leaves Doyle in Zuzich's capable hands, following a highly successful deployment to West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.

A native of Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, Zuzich graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990, at which time he left to serve in USS Pledge (MSO 492) as Operations Officer. His subsequent sea assignments included tours as Strike Warfare Officer in USS Stout (DDG 55), and Combat Systems Officer in USS Yorktown (CG 48), the Navy's first "Smart Ship."

Cmdr. Michael Elliot

Zuzich completed a tour as commanding officer, USS Sentry (MCM 3), participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the U.S. Sixth Fleet Area of Operations.

Ashore, Zuzich served as a strategic planner for the United States Transportation Command. He has also served as the Operational Test and Evaluation Force's lead test director for the TOMAHAWK Missile System and Theater Mission Planning System.

Elliott's next duty station is with COMNAVSURFPAC N3.