U.S.S. Little Rock
Commanding Officer Biography

Captain Kent R. Siegel
20 Oct 76 - 22 Nov 76


Siegel Photo


CAPTAIN KENT R. SIEGEL, U.S. NAVY (RET)

BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION:  Captain Siegel was born in Wausau, WI in 1935.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree (Geology major) from the University of Wisconsin in 1957.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned Ensign, USNR through the NROTC program.  Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School, and has attended the George Washington University Management School and the Royal College of Defense Studies in London.

NAVY EXPERIENCE SUMMARY:  In the U.S. Navy, Captain Siegel was an Unrestricted Line Officer with specialties in Deep Sea Diving, Submarine Warfare and Surface Warfare.  He served in nine ships, three of which he commanded, the diesel submarine USS PICKEREL, the transport dock USS CLEVELAND and amphibious assault ship USS TARAWA.  He served as Executive Officer of guided missile cruiser, USS LITTLE ROCK (CG 4), in 1975/6 while the ship was assigned as flagship of Commander, U.S. SIXTH FLEET in the Mediterranean. In the fall of 1976, he took command for a short period leading up to the ship's decommissioning at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Other assignments included instructor duty at the U.S. Naval Academy; Chief Staff Officer of Submarine Squadron FOUR; Chief of Staff of Amphibious Group THREE; and Deputy Program Director for Amphibious, Auxiliary, and Mine Warfare Ships in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Following retirement from the naval service on 1 December 1986, Captain Siegel participated in the Convoy Commodore Program. Returning to service on "recall for special duty", he directed the training for and execution of convoy exercises with pre positioned combat cargo shipping, operating out of Guam in 1989 and Diego Garcia in 1992 and 1994. Navy personal decorations and awards include The Navy Commendation Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal (2) and Legion of Merit.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT:  In January 1987, Captain Siegel commenced employment with M. Rosenblatt & Son Inc. (later becoming a group of AMSEC L.L.C.), a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm in the Washington Area Branch Office in Arlington, VA.  There, he served as Director of Logistics, participating in numerous R&D and fleet support projects for both Navy and Coast Guard customers that encompassed a wide range of shipboard auxiliary, fire fighting, and pollution abatement equipments and systems.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:  Captain Siegel is a national officer of the Naval Order of the United States; a director of the USS LITTLE ROCK Association; and a member of the Naval Submarine League, Surface Navy Association, and U.S. Naval Institute.
 
CURRENT:  In retirement, Captain Siegel remains involved with the organizations shown above, and is an active volunteer in community and church work in the Mount Vernon District of Fairfax County, Virginia where he resides with his wife, Addie.



Crew Remembrances & Anecdotes
•     From the January 1977 issue of All Hands magazine (Page 27): Commander Kent R. Siegel, Little Rock‘s last commanding officer, summed it all up. “The ceremony is really anticlimactic. You can’t even get a good cup of coffee here and that certainly spells the end of a Navy ship.”

•     (Ed. note: You actually CAN still get a good cup of coffee on the Little Rock! Stop by the Naval Park in Buffalo and ask for Dick Smith. He usually has a pot on.)

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