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Commander John E. Christensen John Christensen was born on 26 October 1935 near Syracuse, New York. He entered the Naval Academy in June 1953, and he graduated in June 1957. After graduation, Mr. Christensen remained for a brief time at the Adademy as an instructor of Seamanship (sailing) for newly arrived Midshipmen. In October 1957, Mr. Christensen received orders to the USS McDERMUT (DD 677) at San Diego, California where
he serviced as First Lieutenant and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer until June 1959. He then attended the Naval Submarine School at New London, Connecticut, for officers basic submarine training. Following his graduation from Submarine School in January 1960, Mr. Christensen served on the USS BLUEGILL (SS242) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as Assistant Engineering Officer, First Lieutenant, Supply/Commissary Officer, and Communications Officer until April 1961. He was designated "Qualified in
Submarines" while on the BLUEGILL. Also in April 1961, Mr. Christensen reported to the U. S. Naval Nuclear Power School, Mare Island California, for advanced training in nuclear engineering, and afterward, he was transferred to the Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit at Idaho Falls, Idaho for practical training. He completed new design reactor plant indoctrination at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in June 1962. Mr. Christensen was
assigned, in June 1962, to the USS ANDREW JACKSON (SSBN 619) as Main Propulsion Assistant and Engineering Officer. While on this nuclear powered, ballistic missile submarine, he completed five strategic Polaris deterrent patrols. he then reported in May 1966, to the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron EIGHTEEN for a tour of duty as Squadron Material Officer; and , in October 1968, Mr. Christensen received orders to the USS FINBACK (SSN 670) Precommissioning Unit as Prospective Executive
Officer. He was appointed to the staff of Nuclear Propulsion Directorate at Naval Ships Systems Command in Washington, D. C., in September 1970, as an assistant for officer training. In May 1973, Mr. Christensen assumed the duties of Prospective Commanding Officer USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688) and Commanding Officer LOS ANGELES Precommissioning Unit at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Commander Christensen is married to the former Deanna
Hammer of Effingham, Illinois. He and Mrs. Christensen and their two children, Joan and Angela, reside in Newport News, Virginia Source: Commissioning Program, 13 November 1976. |
Commander Christensen
was in command of the LOS ANGELES Precommissioning Unit and USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688) from 13 November 1976 through 21 October 1977. He was relieved by