Capt. Anthony Kurta

New Commodore For COMDESRON 24

From Staff

Capt. Anthony M. Kurta will relieve Capt. Paul K. Rosbolt as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 24 during a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. on Pier B-2 on July 3. Uniform is summer white or appropriate civilian attire.

Kurta, a native of Columbia Falls, Mont., graduated with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign in May 1981.

Sea assignments include Communications Officer and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer in USS Moinester (FF 1097); Flag Lieutenant on the staff of Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 12; Combat Systems Officer in USS Comte de Grasse (DD 974); and Operations Officer, Combat Systems Officer and Material Officer on the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 32; commanding officer of MCM Rotational Crew Delta, he commanded USS Sentry (MCM 3) from January to July 1995, USS Guardian (MCM 5), in Sasebo, Japan from August to February 1996, and USS Warrior (MCM 10) from July to October 1996. His next assignment was as Assistant Surface Captain Detailer in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He was recently commanding officer of USS Carney (DDG 64), deploying to the Mediterranean with the John F. Kennedy Battle Group.

Kurta holds a Master's Degree with honors in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama. He recently completed a tour as a National Security Fellow at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government and is now the Chief, Special Actions Division in the Operations Directorate (J-3) of the Joint Staff.

Capt. Paul Rosbolt

Rosbolt, a native of Detroit, Mich., graduated from the University of Michigan (BA, Political Science) in 1978, and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Service via the NROTC program. His initial sea tours were in USS Welch (PG 93), where he served as Weapons Officer, and USS Josephus Daniels (CG 27) where he served as CIC Officer.

He attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he earned an MS (with distinction) in Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Technology and the Department Head Course at the Surface Warfare Officers School. He attended the U.S. Navy War College in Newport, R.I., graduating in 1995 with an MS in National Security Policy and Strategic Affairs (with distinction).

He served as Combat Systems Officer in USS Moosbrugger (DD 980); commissioning Combat Systems Officer in USS Princeton (CG 59); as executive officer in USS Mobile Bay (CG 53); staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as a requirements officer and financial coordinator for the Theater Air Defense branch (N865).

Rosbolt commanded USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51); served as Deputy Chief, Requirements and Acquisition Division (J-8) on the Joint Staff; and was temporarily assigned to the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in 2000 and 2001.

In April 2001, he was assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 24.