James Symonds

Infobox Military Person
name=James A. Symonds


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allegiance=United States
branch=Navy
serviceyears=1976–present
rank=Rear Admiral
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laterwork=Rear Admiral James A. Symonds is a member of the United States Navy and former Commanding Officer of the USS "Ronald Reagan" (CVN-76).cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=328|publisher=United States Navy|title=United States Navy Biography: Rear Admiral James A. Symonds|accessdate=2008-06-05|date=September 5, 2007] He had a prominent, symbolic role in the state funeral of former United States President Ronald Reagan in 2004. [cite news|work=Associated Press|publisher=MSNBC|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5144264/|title=Sun Sets as Reagan Laid to Rest in California|date=June 12, 2004|accessdate=2008-06-05]

Early life and education

Symonds is a native of Sodus, New York. He attended the State University of New York at Albany and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1975. He later was commissioned at the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida that September and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 1976.

Military career

Symonds served one operational tour assigned as an A-6 Intruder Bombardier/Navigator in Attack Squadron 115, aboard the USS "Midway" (CV-41). In 1983, he became a naval aviator after being selected for pilot training and returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He then particiapted in two additional operational tours with Attack Squadron 196, and was deployed onboard the USS "Constellation" (CV-64) and the USS "Independence (CV-62) amidst Operation Desert Storm.

In October 1992, Symonds was promoted to Executive Officer of Attack Squadron 192 on the USS "Nimitz" (CVN-68) and took full command the following October. In 1995 he attended Navy Nuclear Power Training exercise. Symonds later assumed command as Executive Officer of the USS "Dwight D. Eisenhower" (CVN-69), and led the ship on a 1988 deployment order to the Mediterranean Gulf; he assumed command of the USS "Nashville" in 2001.

USS Ronald Reagan

In August 2003 Symonds became Commanding Officer of the USS "Ronald Reagan" (CVN-76), the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. [cite news|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37278|title= USS Ronald Reagan Departs on Third Deployment|date=May 20, 2008|publisher=United States Navy|accessdate=2008-06-05] He presided over the ship's transfer from Norfolk, Virginia to its homeport in San Diego, California] .

On June 5, 2004, while Symonds was commanding officer, former President Ronald Reagan, the ship's namesake, died at his home in California. Upon former First Lady Nancy Reagan's request, the Commanding Officer of the USS "Reagan" would present her the American flag the draped the president's casket; [cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0406/11/lol.01.html|title=CNN Transcript|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2008-06-05|date=June 11, 2004] at the time, it was Symonds.cite news|publisher=CBS|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/05/national/main621238.shtml|title=A Nation Bids Reagan Farewell|date=June 11, 2004|accessdate=2008-06-05] Following a national funeral service in the Washington National Cathedral and six days of public mourning, Symonds presented Nancy Reagan with the flag at President Reagan's gravesite at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library prior to his interment.

Recent career

Symonds turned over command of the USS "Reagan" to Rear Admiral Mike Miller on November 17, 2005. [cite web|publisher=United States Navy|url=http://www.c3f.navy.mil/images_USS_Ronald_Reagan_COC.htm|title=USS Ronald Reagan Change of Command Ceremony|date=November 17, 2005|accessdate=2008-06-05] His more recent and posts have been Navy Director of Environmental Readiness [cite news|title=Navy Sonar Exempted from Marine Mammal Protection Law|date=January 24, 2007|accessdate=2008-06-05|work=Environmental News Service|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2007/2007-01-24-02.asp] and Commander of the Navy Region Northwest, a position he took up in July 2007.

Awards

*4,000 flight hours in the A-6 Intruder
*Defense Superior Service Medal
*Legion of Merit (three awards)
*Meritorious Service Medal (four awards)
*Strike Flight Medal
*Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards)
*Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards)

Footnotes