As USMC 246th birthday approaches, logisticians at NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville remember new ship’s namesake

Photo By Laurie Pearson | US MARINE CORPS Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, Jr. the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps officer to be promoted to brigadier general. Born March 2, 1932, in Topeka, Kansas, Petersen was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1952 after serving two years in the U.S. Navy. Petersen served during the Korean War in 1953 and Vietnam in 1968. During his career, Petersen flew more than 350 combat missions and more than 4,000 hours in various military aircraft. Petersen was promoted to brigadier general on Feb. 23, 1979, becoming the first African-American to hold that rank in the Marine Corps. Petersen retired as a lieutenant general on Aug. 1, 1988, after serving as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. His commands held include Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, deactivated March 11, 2008, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, and served as the commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Petersen’s military awards include: the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with valor device, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.  

PASCAGOULA, MS, UNITED STATES

11.09.2021

Courtesy Story

Naval Supply Systems Command

As the U.S. Marine Corps looks forward to celebrating 246 years of service to our nation, Marines around the globe are preparing to honor the Corps with a traditional military ball and cake cutting ceremony. For NAVSUP logisticians assigned to NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville, and embedded with SUPSHIP Gulf Coast, the birthday this year has a special meaning and will be celebrated by making final preparations for the delivery of the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.

On November 29, 2021 the U.S. Navy will accept delivery of the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). The destroyer is named in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and first African-American Marine general.

To ready the ship for sea, logisticians Jerome McCalpine and Ronald “Cisco” Sales provide Integrated Logistics Support (ILS). Prior to joining the team at NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, Gunnery Sergeant McCalpine, and Master Gunnery Sergeant Sales both served on active-duty in the Marine Corps. Their commitment to country never ceased. After transitioning out of uniform, and into federal civil service, McCalpine now works in the Procurement Branch. As a purchase card holder, he reviews small purchase requisition packages, purchases supplies, general use consumables, and operating space items for Pre-Commissioning Units (PCU) and their crews.

Sales works in the Government Furnished Equipment Branch. He ensures the shipbuilder’s outfitting warehouse is compliant for material receipt, identification, segregation, pre-bin, loading of all allowance items, and issuance of Schedule “A” material. In addition, he provides inventory management oversight for NAVSEA owned Installation & Checkout (I&C) spares and COSAL spares maintained by the shipbuilder. Together, they ensure the ships have all material requirements met for a successful acceptance and builder trials.

Their combined efforts to execute the NAVSUP mission, provide supplies, services, and support to the Navy and joint-warfighter are critical to the success of the NAVSEA mission to deliver new ships on-time and with the requisite quality.

According to McCalpine, the opportunity to work on delivering Petersen has personal meaning, “During the early stage of my career as an E-4, I was fortunate to meet Lt. General Petersen while stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and that was a delightful moment in my life.” He went on to say, “Years later after retiring from the Marine Corps and now working for FLC Jacksonville in Pascagoula, Mississippi, I get another opportunity to be inspired and thankful. I consider this a great honor to be part of history in constructing a ship honoring the first African American lieutenant general in the Marine Corps.”

Currently, PCU Petersen has 95.98% of their allowanced COSAL material and has already exceeded supply readiness goals for delivery. When asked what it means to be part of the delivery of the ship, Sales stated, “It’s an incredible honor to be part of the FLC Jacksonville and SUPSHIP Gulf Coast team, and it is a great pleasure supporting the efforts to make PCU Frank E. Petersen Jr. ready for duty.”


NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor & family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

• Date Taken: 11.09.2021
• Date Posted: 11.09.2021 13:32
• Story ID: 409010
• Location: PASCAGOULA, MS, US