LIEUTENANT COMMANDER EDWARD J. O'BRIEN III
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Edward James O'Brien III was born in Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania in November 1939. After a brief residence in Silver Springs, Maryland, his family settled in Baltimore in 1951. There he attended Loyola High School, graduating in June 1957 and entering the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis the following month.

Upon graduation and commissioning in 1961 he joined the USS GEORGE K. MACKENZIE (DD-836) in Yokosuka, Japan. After serving as Damage Control Assistant, Main Propulsion Assistant and Engineer Officer, Lieutenant (junior grade) O'Brien reported as NROTC instructor at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts in the fall of 1964. This duty was abbreviated to one year due to Lieutenant O'Brien's selection for postgraduate education.

1965 to 1967 were spent at the University of Miami, Florida where he received his Master of Science degree in Physics (Oceanography). Following a brief tour as Engineer Officer in USS TOWERS (DDG-9), he served as Executive Officer of USS JENNINGS COUNTY (LST-846) operating in the Mekong Delta region of the Republic of Vietnam.

In July 1969 Lieutenant Commander O'Brien reported to the Naval Oceanographic Office, Washington, D.C. for a two-year tour as Ship Maintenance and Repair Officer in the Operations Section. This was followed by attendance at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, from which he graduated in January 1972 and proceeded to his present assignment as Executive Officer, USS BREWTON (DE-1086).

Lieutenant Commander O'Brien is authorized to wear the following decorations: Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal.

Lieutenant Commander O'Brien is married to the former Sandra Ann Schneider of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The O'Briens, with their sons Edward IV, Timothy and Daniel, make their home in San Pedro, California.

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