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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44)

CDR. Jeffery D. Betz, USN
Commanding Officer USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) Commander Jeff Betz is a native of Ohio and graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) in 2001 with a degree in Political Science. He was commissioned through the university's NROTC unit and was first assigned as a student at the Surface Warfare Officer School’s Basic Division Officer Course in Newport, Rhode Island.

During his first afloat assignment, he served as the Repair Division Officer and then the Machinery Division Officer onboard the USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49) based in San Diego, California. In 2002, the crew of HARPERS FERRY conducted a hull swap with the Sasebo, Japan based USS GERMANTOWN (LSD-42). As part of the GERMANTOWN crew, Commander Betz returned the ship to San Diego, and served as the Machinery Division Officer and later as the Electrical Officer. The ship conducted an extensive yard period and then deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in the fall of 2003. In 2004, Commander Betz reported onboard Pre-Commissioning Unit NITZE in Bath, Maine as the Strike Officer. USS NITZE was commissioned in March of 2005 where Commander Betz continued to serve as the Strike Officer and later as the Weapons Officer.

Ashore Commander Betz served as the Assistant TLAM Officer on the Commander US Naval Forces Central Command/US 5th Fleet staff in Manama, Bahrain from 2006 to 2007. During this tour he provided direct support to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Following his tour in Bahrain, Commander Betz attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned a Master’s degree in Regional Studies and won the prestigious Louis D. Liskin Award for Excellence in Regional Studies.

As a Department Head Commander Betz served as the Combat Systems Officer onboard USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) from 2010 to 2011. During this time USS KEARSARGE deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM and was activated as the Task Force Commander for OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN in Libya. He was then assigned to DESTROYER SQUADRON TWENTY TWO, where he served as the Staff Director from 2011 to 2013 and deployed as part of the GEORGE H.W. BUSH CARRIER STRIKE GROUP. From 2013 to 2015 he served as the Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander at US Fleet Forces Command. Before being assigned to USS GUNSTON HALL he served at the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence, a NATO sponsored think- tank attached to the USFF staff.

His personal awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal (2), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) and a Navy Unit Commendation.

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