USS Spruance
Executive Officer (April 2010 - April 2012) 
Commander George A. Kessler, Jr.
Executive Officer (April 2010 - April 2012)
Commander Kessler, a native of Albany, Missouri, graduated from Albany RIII High School and entered the United States Naval Academy in 1991. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and commissioned an Ensign in June of 1995.

After his commissioning, Commander Kessler served as the Main Propulsion Officer and Replenishment at Sea Officer in USS SUPPLY (AOE 6). He then reported for duty as the Navigator and Damage Control Assistant in USS CAPE ST GEORGE (CG 71) completing a Mediterranean & Arabian Gulf deployment in support of Desert Shield and Desert Fox. As a Department Head he served as the commissioning Weapons Officer in USS MUSTIN (DDG 89) and then as the Combat Systems Officer leading MUSTIN through her maiden deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following his Department Head tours, Commander Kessler was assigned to the Navy Staff in the Pentagon as the Executive Assistant to Director Strategy and Policy Division, OPNAV N5. He then transferred to the Joint Staff as part of the Joint Integrated Air & Missile Defense Organization (JIAMDO). While assigned to JIAMDO, he served temporary duty as the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Program Officer in the Protection Assessment Division of the Joint Staff Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate, J8. Commander Kessler is currently assigned as the Theater Missile Warning and Command, Control and Communications Branch Chief.

Commander Kessler holds a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, Destroyer Squadron TWO THREE’s Junior Officer Tactician of the Year for 2004, and various unit and campaign ribbons.

 NEWS
USS Spruance (DDG 111) Back to Basics PT
Spruance’s Fitness Program is Second to None
(Feb. 8, 2011) Since the spring of 2009, SPRUANCE Sailors have been at Admiral Prout Field in San Diego and the Field House in Bath, Maine doing push-ups, sit-ups, Indian Runs, wind sprints, and playing spirited games of football all in hopes of improving their PFA scores.
Plankowner of the Week
USS SPRUANCE Plankowner of the Week
USS Spruance (Feb 12, 2011) - As SPRUANCE’s inaugural Plankowner of the Week, IT3(SW) Carrillo epitomizes the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment.
FEB 25 Plankowner of the Week
USS Spruance (Feb 25, 2011) - SPRUANCE’s inaugural Plankowner of the Week is LS2 Singh.
S2011 Super Trails
High Speed on USS Spruance During Super Trials
On Tuesday, March 15th, USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) set sail for four days to participate in a series of Sea Trials to test all of Combat Systems and Engineering capabilities.
Spruance Honor Guard at the Revolution vs. Timbers Soccer Match April 2nd 2011.
The Spruance Honor Guard
Spruance Honor Guard at the Revolution vs. Timbers Soccer Match April 2nd 2011.
Plankowner of the Week
APR 12 Plankowner of the Week
Plankowner of the Week
SPRUANCE crew stands at attention while Commander Westbrook signs a check for $1 billion dollars.
Navy Accepts Delivery of the Newest Destroyer: SPRUANCE
On April 15th, General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works (BIW) formally transferred custody of Pre Commissioning Unit SPRUANCE (DDG 111) to the U.S. Navy in a ceremony held at the shipyard in Bath, ME.
Plankowner of the week
MAY 01 Plankowner of the Week
MAY 01 Plankowner of the Week
FCC(SW) Auffenberg speaks with Westbrook High School Staff
SPRUANCE Sailors Participate in Maine Tradition
On Friday, May 6th, twenty-one SPRUANCE Sailors traveled to Westbrook Middle School and High School for the nation’s 14th Annual Space Day.
July 4th Celebration
Spruance Sailors Celebrate America’s Birthday
Over fifty crewmembers travelled to parades and a baseball game in order to pay homage to America’s Fourth of July tradition.
BMSN Lomack and MR2 Limon get ready to fight an aircraft fire onboard USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) in Bath, Maine.
Fire Fighting Drill Onboard USS SPRUANCE
BMSN Lomack and MR2 Limon get ready to fight an aircraft fire onboard USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) in Bath, Maine.
Pre-Commissioning Unit Spruance
Pre-Commissioning Unit Spruance (DDG 111) Pioneers Latest Technology (Video)
Pre-Commissioning Unit Spruance has had the opportunity to try out the navy's newest technology. The largest change involves the integration of electronic controls within navigation and the ship's engine systems.
Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer Spruance
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will christen the newest guided-missile destroyer, Spruance, June 5 during a 10 a.m. ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine
Ellen Spruance Holscher, sponsor of the destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit Spruance (DDG 111), celebrates after christening
The guided-missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Spruance (DDG 111) is christened at a ceremony in Bath, Maine
The ship is named after Holscher's grandfather, Adm. Raymond A. Spruance, the U.S. Navy commander at the Battle of Midway, fought June 4-7, 1942. With Holscher are her two daughters, Dorothy Hamilton Holscher, left, and Margaret Spruance Holscher.
The Navy’s Newest Destroyer Prepares to Set Sail from Bath for the Last Time
With all of its major certifications and milestones complete, USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) is slated to set sail from Bath Iron Works (BIW) on September 1st, 2011.
USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) During Super Trials
USS Spruance (DDG 111) Begins Maiden Voyage
BATH, Maine - The newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Spruance (DDG 111), sailed away from the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine Sept. 1 on its maiden voyage to her commissioning site in Key West, Fla.
USS Spruance arrives at Naval Air Station Key West
Spruance arrives in Key West for commissioning ceremony
USS Spruance (DDG 111) arrived at Naval Air Station Key West Friday, Sept. 23 in preparation for its formal commissioning ceremony to be held Oct. 1.
Navy to Commission New Guided Missile Destroyer Spruance
The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Spruance, Oct. 1, during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Key West, Fla.
Spruance Sailors Spruce Up Southernmost City
Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) spent Sept. 28 and 29 participating in six community relations (COMREL) projects while spending the week in Key West preparing for the ship's commissioning ceremony Oct. 1.
USS Spruance (DDG 111) is commissioned during a sunset ceremony at Naval Air Station Key West, Fla.
USS Spruance Commissioned as Navy's Newest Destroyer
USS Spruance (DDG 111) became the newest member of the Navy's Pacific fleet after being placed in commission during a sunset ceremony at Naval Air Station Key West Oct. 1.
USS Spruance (DDG 111)
Newest Navy Destroyer Arrives in San Diego
USS Spruance (DDG 111), the newest destroyer to join the Navy's Pacific Fleet, is scheduled to arrive to its homeport of San Diego for the first time Oct. 24.
Sailors aboard USS Sruance are greeted by family and friends at Naval Base San Diego
Newest Navy Destroyer Arrives in San Diego
USS Spruance (DDG 111), the newest destroyer to join the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, arrived in its homeport of San Diego for the first time Oct. 24.
Hollywood Visits Navy Ships
SAN DIEGO - Actors, writers and producers from the television and motion picture industries visited a guided-missile destroyer and attack submarine Feb. 11 as part of the Hollywood to the Navy program to interact with Sailors and learn how the Navy operates.
USS Spruance (ddg111)
Spruance Grand Slam Sets U.S. Navy Distance Record
SAN DIEGO — USS Spruance (DDG 111) set the Navy record for distance while firing a missile during Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT), March 13, 2012.
Second Class Petty Officer Tran B. Trinh and Third Class Petty Officer Lacey G. Johnson earn their ESWS qualification.
Spruance Pins First Two Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists
SAN DIEGO- Personnel Specialist Second Class Petty Officer Tran B. Trinh (left) and Operations Specialist Third Class Petty Officer Lacey G. Johnson (right) became the first Sailors to earn their ESWS qualification on board USS Spruance.

 Served with...
Commander Tate Westbrook

Start Date: May 2010
End Date: May 2012
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