Captain John P. Cordle
Captain Cordle is a native of Rome, Georgia and a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering (With Merit) and a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Planning from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Captain Cordle most recently commanded USS JAN JACINTO (CG 56), completing an INSURV and a Counter-Piracy deployment. He was the 2010 recipient of the U.S. Navy League’s Captain John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership during this tour, as well as the BUMED “Epictetus” Award for Innovative Leadership. During this tour, San Jacinto earned the Battle “E”, CNO Safety Award for the CG Class, and the Retention Excellence Award for 2009 and 2010. He was the Pre-Commissioning Reactor Officer in PCU GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77) and Operations Officer for Carrier Strike Group Twelve after commanding USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour he was awarded a Bronze Star, Battle “E” and CHEZEK Gunnery award, as well as the Admiral Bulkeley Award for Peer Leadership in Command.
Other previous sea tours included Executive Officer in USS COLE (DDG 67) and Reactor Training Assistant in PCU HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75). He also served as Weapons and Combat Systems Officer in USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51). He served Division Officer tours as Main Propulsion Assistant USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36) and Damage Control Assistant in USS TRUXTUN (CGN 35). His shore assignments include Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel and Readiness at COMNAVSURFLANT, and as an instructor in the Personnel Exchange Program at the Federal German Naval Academy, where he was designated a Foreign Area Officer and a Master Training Specialist.
Awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal (3), as well as various campaign and service awards. He is married to the former Gudrun Sukatus of Flensburg, Germany.