COMMANDING OFFICER 

Captain Leonard B. Jones

Captain Jones hails from Matthews, Georgia.  He is a June 1978 Navy ROTC graduate of Savannah State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.  He began his Navy career with division officer tours as First Lieutenant in USS HIGBEE (DD 806) homeported in Seattle, WA and First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer in USS DAHLGREN (DDG 43) homeported in Norfolk, VA until January 1982.

        After completing two years of Officer Recruiting Duty at Navy Recruiting District, Atlanta in April 1984, he attended Department Head School in Newport, RI.  Upon completion of Department Head School in September 1984, he served two years as Operations Officer in USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG 2) homeported in Mayport, FL until October 1986.

        He then served two years as Operations Officer on the staff of DESTROYER SQUADRON 31 homeported in San Diego, CA until December 1988. He then attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, receiving a Master of Science degree in Applied Science specializing in Anti-Submarine Warfare in March 1991.  Following the Naval Postgraduate School, he served as Executive Officer in USS VINCENNES (CG 49) homeported in San Diego until February 1993. 

        His next assignment was Staff Operations and Plans Officer for Commander, Afloat Training Group Western Pacific, in Yokosuka, Japan from March 1993 until July 1995, where he led training for all ships in the 7^th Fleet and Forward Deployed Naval Forces.  He then completed a year at the National War College, National Defense University, in Washington, DC, where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security Affairs in June 1996.

        He then served as Commanding Officer of Navy Recruiting District, Atlanta from October 1996 to September 1998, where his area of responsibility included 25 Navy recruiting stations throughout Georgia and South Carolina.  He served as the Naval Attaché/Liaison Officer to U.S. Embassy Nassau, Bahamas from November 1998 until February 2001 which included service as the Senior U.S. Defense Representative for The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos for U.S. Southern Command. 

        From March 2001 until July 2004 he served as Director of the Latin American, Caribbean & Middle East Division at the Navy International Programs Office in Washington, DC, overseeing State Department Security Assistance and Department of the Navy Foreign Military Sales programs.  He is currently serving as the Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer of Navy ROTC Unit Savannah State University, Savannah, GA.

        His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, and several other unit and service awards.
 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Commander Edward G. GaNun

CDR GaNun attended Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!!) on a Navy ROTC Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance in June 1989. In 1991 he was designated a Naval Aviator and assigned to HSL-46 in Mayport, Florida flying the SH-60B Seahawk. CDR GaNun completed two deployments as Detachment Maintenance Officer and Assistant Officer in Charge.

In 1995, CDR GaNun transferred to the Secretary of the Navy’s White House Liaison Office. While in Washington, he completed a Masters of Business Administration degree at George Mason University. CDR GaNun was assigned to USS Kearsarge in 1998 and served as Mini Boss throughout the MARG 2-99 deployment.

In 2000 he returned to HSL-46 and completed a successful deployment as Detachment FIVE’s Officer in Charge. He later served as the squadron’s Operations Officer. In 2003, CDR GaNun transferred to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2004 he was selected for promotion to Commander and earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Upon graduation, CDR GaNun volunteered for an overseas assignment to Fleet Activities Okinawa where he served as SEVENTH Fleet Liaison Officer, Air Operations Officer, and Officer in Charge of the White Beach Naval Facility. CDR GaNun is currently serving as Executive Officer of the Navy ROTC Unit at Savannah State University (Go Tigers!!).

CDR GaNun’s personal awards include four Navy Commendation and three Navy Achievement Medals. He has earned several unit and campaign awards including the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals.
 

Unit History

Admiral Elmo Zumwalt

The efforts of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt played a significant roll in the establishment of the Naval ROTC Unit at Savannah State University (then Savannah State College) on 22 September 1971 with an enrollment of forty-one Midshipmen. The first four officers, three Navy Ensigns and one Marine Corps Second Lieutenant, were commissioned in June 1974. In December 1977, the first "cross-town" Midshipman from Armstrong Atlantic State University (then Armstrong State College) was commissioned. To date, the unit has commissioned 222 officers into the Naval Service: 173 Navy Ensigns (35 Female) and 49 Marine Corps Second Lieutenants (7 female).

Service Selection
Midshipmen who successfully complete the four-year NROTC Program and graduate with a baccalaureate degree are eligible for commissioning as officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps. There are three options available to graduates who choose to enter the Navy: Surface Warfare, Naval Aviation, or Submarines. Marine-Option Midshipmen will be able to choose a specialty field after graduation from The Basic School.

Active Duty Staff
A staff of active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel is assigned to the NROTC Unit to serve as instructors, counselors and mentors for the Midshipmen. Generally, this staff will consist of a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, a Marine Officer Instructor, two Naval Officer Instructors, and enlisted personnel serving as Assistant Marine Officer Instructor, Assistant Administrative Officer and Supply Officer.