Tony & Patti Desmond of Sharon Springs, NY celebrate 30 Year of service in the U.S. Navy for their son Captain Michael P. Desmond
By Alexis Pencar
Captain Michael P. Desmond, of Norfolk, Virginia celebrated 30 years of decorated service in the United States Navy this past weekend with family and friends in his hometown of Sharon Springs, NY.
The celebration took place at the Fancy Farmer Restaurant on Route 20 on the afternoon of Saturday, August 3rd with local guests as well as visitors from all over the country in attendance.
Proud parents of Captain Desmond, Tony Desmond and Patti (Brigham) Desmond of Sharon Springs were beaming as they welcomed guests in to celebrate his extensive career of honorable and impactful military service. The restaurant was handsomely decorated and there were even posters of the ships and tours Captain Desmond had served on.
According to the Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT) Biography (2020):
“Captain Mike Desmond enlisted in the Navy in 1994 and was an Electronics Technician specializing in shipboard meteorological systems. His initial sea tour was in USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), during which he attained the rate of ET2 (Surface Warfare) before being selected to attend Officer Candidate School. CAPT Desmond’s first Division Officer tour was as Gunnery Officer in USS Monterey (CG 61). Subsequent operational assignments include duty in USS George Washington (CVN 73) as Electrical Division Officer and in USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer.
Manning shortfalls led him to fill the two Department Head billets concurrently for eight months and Bulkeley earned a Battle “E”, a Unit Tactics Award and the Arizona Memorial Trophy. Ashore, he instructed at the Damage Control Assistant School, qualifying as a Master Training Specialist, and worked on the OPNAV N51 team from 2008 until 2011. While at the Pentagon, he completed a voluntary 13-month Individual Augmentation tour as a Multi-National Forces-Iraq J33 Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Defense Joint Headquarters. CAPT Desmond was next assigned to the J53 Southern Africa Regional Engagement Branch at the U.S. Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany.
Captain Desmond also served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer (CO) of the Littoral Combat Ship Crew 103 “Rough Riders” from 2014 to 2017, sailing aboard USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) in 7th Fleet during the ship’s maiden deployment and delivering USS Detroit (LCS 7) to the Navy as commissioning CO. He was then Carrier Strike Group TEN’s N3A and N3 during a three-year tour that featured a 5th Fleet deployment embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and record-setting 200+ consecutive days at sea. CAPT Desmond reported as CO of USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) in July 2020.
CAPT Desmond holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Plattsburgh State University and a master’s degree in Diplomacy and Military Science (cum laude) from Norwich University. He is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and other individual, unit and campaign decorations.”
Captain Desmond continued to serve as the Commanding Officer on the USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) from July 2020 until September 2022 and then went on as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Warfighting Requirements and
Assessments, U.S. Second Fleet from October 2022 to present in Norfolk, VA. Captain Michael Desmond and his family look forward to his upcoming official retirement in December 2024.
Family and friends alike, the atmosphere was joyous and cheerful as stories were told of Captain Desmond’s accomplishments and family members recalled special memories. As this was a family gathering, there was also a 50th wedding anniversary celebration paired in as well.
Service runs in the family as Captain Desmond’s father, Tony Desmond, a United States Air Force Veteran, has spent a lifetime in law enforcement, particularly as the former Schoharie County Sheriff and continues to serve the community as the current Sharon Town Justice.
“Captain Mike Desmond enlisted in the Navy in 1994 and was an Electronics Technician specializing in shipboard meteorological systems. His initial sea tour was in USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), during which he attained the rate of ET2 (Surface Warfare) before being selected to attend Officer Candidate School. CAPT Desmond’s first Division Officer tour was as Gunnery Officer in USS Monterey (CG 61). Subsequent operational assignments include duty in USS George Washington (CVN 73) as Electrical Division Officer and in USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer.
Manning shortfalls led him to fill the two Department Head billets concurrently for eight months and Bulkeley earned a Battle “E”, a Unit Tactics Award and the Arizona Memorial Trophy. Ashore, he instructed at the Damage Control Assistant School, qualifying as a Master Training Specialist, and worked on the OPNAV N51 team from 2008 until 2011. While at the Pentagon, he completed a voluntary 13-month Individual Augmentation tour as a Multi-National Forces-Iraq J33 Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Defense Joint Headquarters. CAPT Desmond was next assigned to the J53 Southern Africa Regional Engagement Branch at the U.S. Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany.
Captain Desmond also served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer (CO) of the Littoral Combat Ship Crew 103 “Rough Riders” from 2014 to 2017, sailing aboard USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) in 7th Fleet during the ship’s maiden deployment and delivering USS Detroit (LCS 7) to the Navy as commissioning CO. He was then Carrier Strike Group TEN’s N3A and N3 during a three-year tour that featured a 5th Fleet deployment embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and record-setting 200+ consecutive days at sea. CAPT Desmond reported as CO of USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) in July 2020.
CAPT Desmond holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Plattsburgh State University and a master’s degree in Diplomacy and Military Science (cum laude) from Norwich University. He is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and other individual, unit and campaign decorations.”
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