Commander Curt Jones became the first Commanding Officer of USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) at the ship's formal commissioning on Nov. 7, 2009. He was born and raised in Binghamton, NY.

Commander Jones has most recently been on the staff of the Naval Personnel Command (NPC) as Deputy Director of Surface Warfare Officer Distribution. While attached to NPC he deployed to Afghanistan and served on the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device task force.

He previously served as Executive Officer of USS CORONADO (AGF-11) the flagship of the Commander, Third Fleet based in San Diego. Prior to duty on USS CORONADO, Commander Jones was assigned to the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in Omaha, NE as an Emergency Actions Officer and later became Aide-de-Camp for the Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM.

Previous sea duty included the pre-commissioning crew of USS BATAAN (LHD-5) both in Pascagoula MS and Norfolk, VA, and as Chief Engineer for USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7), home-ported in San Diego. There he received the Surface Navy Association's Arleigh Burke Award for operational excellence.

His initial sea assignment was in 1989 on the USS SAN JOSE (AFS-7), home-ported in Guam. From 1989 to 1993 he made deployments to the Western Pacific and the Middle East, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

A 1989 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's degree in philosophy, Commander Jones received his commission through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps at MIT.

He earned a Master's degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. where was active in student government and served a term as chairman of the Officer Student Advisory Committee.

Commander Jones's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards) and the Army Achievement Medal.

Commander Erich Schmidt, USS NEW YORK’s first Executive Officer most recently was on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command as the Current Readiness Officer.

He previously served as Chief of Staff for Maritime Pre-positioning Ship Squadron One, forward-deployed to the Mediterranean. Prior to duty with the squadron, Commander Schmidt was assigned to the Operational Test and Evaluation Force Command in Norfolk, VA as the Operational Test Director for the Navy's newest amphibious ship type, the San Antonio Class.

Previous sea duty included USS SIDES (FFG 14), home ported in San Diego, where he served as Operations Officer. During that tour the SIDES was awarded the "Battle E' award for operational excellence on a deployment to the Western Pacific in support of a readiness and training exercise with five Allied Navies. He later served as Operations Officer in USS AUSTIN (LPD 4), home-ported in Norfolk.

In 1997, Commander Schmidt was assigned to the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific in San Diego, CA, as an instructor in amphibious warfare, where he qualified as a Master Training Specialist.

Commander Schmidt's initial sea assignment in 1992 was with the USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37), aboard which he deployed to the Mediterranean and Adriatic in support of peace-keeping operations in Bosnia. In 1995 he served on the staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five, where he was Supporting Arms Coordinator and Assistant Operations Officer, deploying to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf.

Commander Schmidt graduated from the University of Arizona in 1991 with a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, receiving his commission through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He earned a Master's degree in educational technology in 2004 from Troy State University.

Commander Schmidt's personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards) and numerous campaign and unit citations

CMDCM(SW) Robert W. Stocklin will become the first Command Master Chief (CMC) of USS NEW YORK in the Fall of 2009. He has served on active duty for 27 years.

Master Chief Stocklin's most recent assignment was Command Master Chief of Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, TN. He was previously CMC of USS JOHN L. HALL (FFG 32), home-ported in Pascagoula.

Prior to serving in USS JOHN L. HALL, he was CMC of USS PORTLAND (LSD 37), during which time he deployed with Amphibious Task Force East, landing Marines in the Gulf Region in advance of the initial air strikes at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Previous sea duty included USS INCHON (MCS 12), where he served as Legal Officer and Force Protection Officer; USS DETROIT (AOE 4), where he was Legal Officer; and USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63), where he served in the Legal Department.

CMDCM(SW) Stocklin entered active service in 1981 at the Great Lakes, IL Recruit Training Center, receiving Yeoman training at "A" School prior to reporting to USS PETERSON (DD 969) in 1982. He earned a Legalman rating, attended Naval Justice School and served in the Staff Judge Advocate's office in Newport, RI. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA.

Other shore assignments included a Naval Legal Service Office Detachment in Corpus Christi, TX and the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, RI.

CMDCM(SW) Stocklin's personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards) and the Good Conduct Medal (five awards).