Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Lieutenant Commander R. Curtis Sparling Commanding Officer (February 2011 - June 2012)

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Lieutenant Commander Sparling, a native of West Covina, California, enlisted in the Navy as a SONAR Technician Submarines in 1990. He completed 10 years of enlisted service. His enlisted sea tours were aboard two Fast Attack boats, the USS ASPRO (SSN 648) and the USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN 711) stationed out of Pearl Harbor, HI, where he completed three WESTPACs. In 1996 he was ordered to Navy Recruiting District New England where he completed a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences from the State University of New York at Albany.

In 2000 LCDR Sparling was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and then attended Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI. His first assignment was in USS UNDERWOOD (FFG 36) in Mayport, FL, where he served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. During his tour, USS UNDERWOOD deployed to 5TH Fleet in support of OIF and OEF, where he completed over 100 boardings as Visit Board Search and Seizure Officer. Following USS UNDERWOOD’s 5th Fleet deployment they sailed to the north Atlantic in support of Northern Lights where he was assigned duties as the Assistant Operations Officer. His Department Head tour was in USS FORT McHENRY (LSD 43) as the Operations Officer, where they completed an extensive overhaul, which was followed by workups with BATAAN Expeditionary Strike Group.

LCDR Sparling’s shore assignment was at SURFACE WARFARE OFFICER SCHOOL Newport, RI, as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Lead. In June 2007, He earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and in 2008 a Masters of Business Administration from Liberty University.

LCDR Sparling’s personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), Navy Enlisted Good Conduct (two award), and various campaign and unit awards.