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Lake County Journal

Capt. Frank Martin retires from Navy

Capt. Frank Martin is saluted by two sons who are midshipmen. They told him "We have the watch." (John Sheppard)

By Timmy Wakefield

On Dec. 22, Capt. Frank Martin retired from the U.S. Navy, ending a distinguished 30-year career. Family and friends gathered at the USS WHITEHAT to say farewell.

Martin moved to San Diego, taking a job with AT&T.

Martin graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with NROTC commission in 1984.
Sea duty assignments on USS WORDEN (CG 18), USS PAUL F FOSTER (DD 964), USS HIGGINS (DDG 76) and Chief Staff Officer for COMDESRON 23 (the Little Beavers).

Shore duty assignments on Surface Operations staff at COMPACFLT; Instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School in Coronado, California; Tactical Action Officer instructor with the Royal Australian Navy in Canberra, Australia; and OPNAV N70 staff for Integration and Assessments conducting analysis on future theater and ballistic missile defense systems.

He served as Commanding Officer at U.S. Fleet Activities Chinhae, South Korea from June 2003 to July 2005. At Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ), U.S. Joint Forces Command, he supported Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.
In October 2005, he deployed to Islamabad, Pakistan following a major earthquake to establish the Joint Task Force that directed U.S. military relief operations. In 2007, he led a planning team to develop the Crisis Response Concept Plan for COMFIFTHFLT in Bahrain.

In 2008, he served on flag staff for Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic. He assumed his second Installation Commanding Officer tour at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan from April 2008 until July 2011. Sasebo was the main U.S. Navy supply point for Operation TOMODACHI providing humanitarian assistance following Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

He served as Director of Operations (N3) and Chief of Staff for Commander Navy Installations Command from August 2011 to August 2013. Captain Martin assumed command as Commander, Navy Region Midwest in August 2013 and effectively led its disestablishment September 2014. He finished by serving as Special Projects Officer at Naval Station Great Lakes.