Mr. Firaj,
Here is the information on the commanding officer as requested.
steven.g.bethke@navy.mil 8082570612 steven bethke
BIO
CAPT STEVEN G. BETHKE, USN
Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command
A native of Los Angeles, California, Captain Steven G. Bethke graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. He entered the Navy through Aviation Officer Candidate School, commissioned in January 1988.
Captain Bethke's first operational tour was with the "World Famous White Lightnings" of VP-17 home based at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. The squadron completed a deployment to Naval Air Station, Adak Alaska and a tri-site deployment during Operation DESERT STORM to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia, Masirah Oman and Naval Air Field Kadena, Japan. For his first shore tour, he reported to VP-30, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida as a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor in June 1992.
Reporting back to sea duty, Captain Bethke checked aboard USS KITTY HAWK air department in March 1995 where he qualified as Surface Warfare Officer, Officer of the Deck (Underway) and Command Duty Officer (Underway). Following this, he attended the Naval Post Graduate School from June 1997 to December 1998 receiving a Masters of Arts degree in National Security Affairs with regional specialty in the Far East.
Again in Hawaii, Captain Bethke served as a department head with the "Golden Swordsmen" of VP-47 onboard Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay in June 1999. During this time, he completed 2 multi-site deployments: split to Naval Air Facilities in Misawa, Japan and Kadena, Okinawa; and then Diego Garcia, Masirah, Oman and Naval Support Activity, Bahrain.
In August 2001, he transferred to Japan and Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing ONE headquarters, Kami Seya, Japan as Current Operations Officer. Serving both Commander Task Forces FIVE SEVEN and SEVEN TWO, he split time between Japan and Bahrain. During this tour he was responsible for operational oversight of all coalition Maritime Aircraft participating in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Moving back to Hawaii, Captain Bethke assumed command of VP-4 in April 2005. The "Skinny Dragons" conducted combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as the first Maritime Patrol Squadron fully deployed to the Commander FIFTH Fleet Area of Responsibility. During this time, significant squadron accomplishments included support for the first post Saddam Hussein Iraqi elections and Horn of Africa counter-piracy operations.
Following VP-4, he again served overseas, this time in Bahrain attached to Task Force FIVE SEVEN, Forward Command element responsible to the Commander for facets of maritime reconnaissance executed by 1200 personnel flying up to 30 coalition aircraft. Prior to RTC, he served as the Analysis Division, Programs and Resources Directorate at North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit awards and campaign medals.
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