USS Tortuga
Executive Officer (July 2010 - July 2012) 
Commander John Barnett 
Executive Officer (July 2010 - July 2012)
A native of Clearwater, FL, CDR Barnett graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation. He was subsequently commissioned in the United States Navy through the Merchant Marine Reserve program. CDR Barnett also holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.

CDR Barnett has served at sea in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. His sea tours include assignments as Communications Officer in USS THORN (DD 988), as a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Detachment Officer-in-Charge at ASSAULT CRAFT UNIT TWO, Operations Officer in USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49), and Operations and Plans Officer in the staff of Commander, AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON ELEVEN.

Ashore, CDR Barnett has served as instructor and curriculum developer at the Surface Warfare Officer's School in Newport, RI, has completed JPME Phase I and the Naval Operational Planner's Course at the Naval War College, and has served as an operational planner in the Plans and Policy Directorate on the staff of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

CDR Barnett has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (4), and the Navy Achievement Medal (2).

 NEWS
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) launches a target drone during a drone gunnery exercise in support of CARAT Malaysia 2011
USS Tortuga deployed for CARAT 2011
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jun. 11, 2011) - USS Tortuga (LSD 46) launches a target drone during a drone gunnery exercise in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2011.
USS Tortuga is conducting sea trials
Tortuga is Conducting Sea Trials
PACIFIC OCEAN - USS Tortuga (LSD 46) sits at anchor outside Sasebo, Japan during well deck operations. Tortuga is conducting sea trials after a nearly three month shipyard availability.
Sailors from USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) in training.
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) During Operation Sea Trials
Pacific Ocean (October 21, 2010) - Sailors from USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) in training.
Lt. Michael R. Syamken, Dental Officer assigned to USS Tortuga (LSD 46) examines Lt. Cdr. Atsushi Sasagawa on-board JDS Shimokit
USS Tortuga Shares Dental Expertise With JDS Shimokita
SUKUMO CITY, Japan (Jan. 27, 2011) - Lt. Michael R. Syamken, Dental Officer, USS Tortuga examines Lt. Cdr. Atsushi Sasagawa on-board JDS Shimokita. Syamken volunteered to see patients onboard Shimokita after an officer exchange during Transport Exercises.
Sailors unload humanitarian supplies from Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1627 aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga
USS Tortuga Embarks Heavy Lift Helos for Disaster Response in Japan
SEA OF JAPAN (March 13, 2011) - Sailors unload humanitarian supplies from Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1627 aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
A Japan Self-Defense Force armored vehicle is craned aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
Tortuga Sailors, Japanese Army Forces Support Operation Tomodachi
TOMAKOMAI KO, Japan (March 15, 2011) A Japan Self-Defense Force armored vehicle is craned aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Tortuga loaded humanitarian supplies and more than 20 vehicles to support Operation Tomodachi, a humanitarian assistance mission in the wake of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami in Japan.
Members of USS Tortuga (LSD 46) meticulously check all vehicles and equipment on the flight deck
USS Tortuga Loads Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Vehicles
TOMAKOMAI KO, Japan (March 15, 2011) Members of USS Tortuga (LSD 46) meticulously check all vehicles and equipment on the flight deck before the ship gets underway to complete the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force onload.
Sailors run across the flight deck aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46) after receiving equipment and supplies for EODMU 5
Tortuga Embarks Expeditionary Units to Perform Rescue, Salvage Operations
PACIFIC OCEAN (March 28, 2011) Sailors run across the flight deck aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) after receiving equipment and supplies for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 as the unit comes aboard to assist with humanitarian assistance operations in Japan.
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) conduct an amphibious landing exercise during CARAT Malaysia 2011
U.S. Set Maritime Exercise in Palawan
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines - Three U.S. Navy ships arrived in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, to launch the 17th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).
USS Tortuga Hosts International Exchange For Midshipmen
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) hosts 16 midshipmen from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to show students real-life shipboard evolutions and augment what they have learned in the classroom.
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) pulls alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force oiler JS Hamana (AOE 424) for a replenishment at sea
USS Tortuga Conducts Replenishment at Sea with JS Hamana
PHILLIPINE SEA - USS Tortuga (LSD 46) pulls alongside JS Hamana (AOE 424) to conduct a replenishment at sea during Annual Exercise 2011 (AE 11).
USS Tortuga Embarks CLR 3, Prepares for Recovery Assistance
SOUTH CHINA SEA - The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) departed from White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa Nov. 19 after embarking components of Combat Logistics Regiment (CLR) 3 in preparation to offer recovery assistance in distressed areas of the Kingdom of Thailand.
USS Tortuga Arrives in Thailand after Cobra Gold 2012
LAEM CHABANG, Thailand – Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and Marines with elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Laem Chabang for a port visit Feb. 21.
Sailors from USS Tortuga (LSD 46) offload embarked 31st MEU vehicles
Essex Amphibious Ready Group in White Beach for Certification
OKINAWA, Japan – Sailors from USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46) join USS Essex (LHD 2) pier side at White Beach Naval Installation on March 2, to load equipment and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
Capt. Kenneth Reynard, executive officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, and Sailors cut a cake.
USS Tortuga Celebrates Women's Education - Empowerment
PACIFIC OCEAN - USS Tortuga (LSD 46) Sailors and 31st MEU Marines celebrated women's education and empowerment with a ceremony on the mess deck of the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship, March 31.
Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Janmark Rivera directs a U.S. Marine AH-1W Super Cobra to land on the flight deck of USS Tortuga.
USS Denver, USS Tortuga Conduct Amphibious Training in the Yellow Sea
YELLOW SEA – Sailors from USS Denver (LPD 9) and USS Tortuga (LSD 42) and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted training April 2 - 3 in waters west of the Korean peninsula.

 Served with...
Commander Ragland

Start Date: February 2011
End Date: July 2012
BMCS(SW) David R. Trigg

Start Date: March 2011
End Date: May 2011
CMDCM (SW) Bryant J. Rice

Start Date: May 2011
End Date: March 2013
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