Captain Laurence J. Gionet, Jr., USN
Captain Larry Gionet graduated from Catawba College, Salisbury, NC in 1965. He received his commission at OCS, Newport, RI. His first duty assignement was an unaccompanied tour as Assistant MPA in USS ANNAPOLIS (AGMR-1), the ship permanently deployed to the Western Pacific. In February, 1967, Captain Gionet reported to Naval Station, Mayport for duty as Assisstant Personnell Officer. In November, 1968, he was assigned to USS WIlliam H. Standley (DLG-32), homeported in Mayport, FL as Navigator and Administrative Officer. His tour in Standley included a nine month Western Pacific deployment. His follow-on assignement in November of 1970 was USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849), homported in Charleston, SC, as Operations Officer, seeing Kraus through a regular overhaul, refresher training and a Middle East Deployment. He detached from Kraus in August, 1972 and assumed command of USS Green Bay (PG-101), homeported in Little Creek, VA in November of 1972. He was assigned in November of 1973 to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, where he served as Navigation instructor, Company Officer, and an Administrative Officer, Office of the Commandant of Midshipmen.
In August, 1977, Captain Gionet commenced the course of instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. Following graduation, he reported aboard USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085), homeported in Norfolk as Executive Officer. Captain Gionet was assigned in January 1980 as Executive Officer for the Precommissioning Detail of the USS Yellowstone (AD-41). He served as the Executive Officer for the new class destroyed tender upon her commissioning in Norfolk in June of 1980 until Fenruary 1982
Captain Gionet took command of the USS Samuel Elliot Morrision (FFG-13), homeported in Mayport, in November 1982. He was assigned in February 1985 to Commander, Carrier Group Four, Norfolk, as Surface Operations Officer. In September, 1987, he reported for duty on the staff of CINCLANTFLT, in Norfolk, as Deputy Director for Tactical Development and Training, and Fleet Surface Warfare/ASW Officer. From August of 1989 until November of 1991, he served as Commanding Officer of Naval Station, Charleston. Captain Gionet assumed command of the Biddle on May 28th, 1992.
