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

Volpe Receives SNA Arleigh Burke Award

By Lt.j.g. Andrew Bonderud, USS Gettysburg PAO

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Volpe was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal by USS Gettysburg Commanding Officer, Capt. Rich Brown, at the end of Gettysburg's 2007 Arabian Gulf deployment. Photo courtesy of USS Gettysburg

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis J. Volpe was recently selected as one of two recipients of the Surface Navy Association's Arleigh Burke Award for Operational Excellence.

This prestigious honor is awarded annually to two junior surface warriors in the U.S. Navy between the pay grades of E-3 and E-7, W-2 and W-4, or O-1 and O-4. It recognizes superior achievement in the operational aspects of Surface Warfare by qualified Surface Warfare Officers and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists.

Volpe graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in History. After completing Surface Warfare Officer's school in Newport, Rhode Island, he reported to his first ship, USS Spruance (DD-963) in Mayport. He spent four years on board Spruance, serving as the Communications Officer, Training Officer, First Lieutenant, and Dry-Dock coordinator.

After detaching from Spruance, Volpe reported to the Professional Development Division of the United States Naval Academy as a Leadership Instructor. While teaching at the Academy, he also earned a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from the Navy's Postgraduate School's LEAD Program.

Volpe returned to Mayport, where he reported to USS Gettysburg (CG 64) in October 2004. Since reporting to Gettysburg, he has served as the Weapons Officer (October 2004 - April 2006) and the Combat Systems Officer (April 2006 - December 2007).

In 2007, Volpe led Gettysburg's combat team through an arduous training cycle and certification period before the ship deployed with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to the Arabian Gulf. During this complex deployment, where Gettysburg served as the strike group's Air Defense Commander, Volpe served as Tactical Action Officer in the ship's Combat Information Center, in addition to his duties as Combat Systems Officer and Senior Watch Officer.

Due to Volpe's leadership, Gettysburg had no major equipment degradations during the entire deployment, while supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Volpe will be presented his award at the Surface Navy Association's 2007 National Symposium, to be held in Washington, D.C. between Jan. 15 and 17. He will then report to the Naval War College.