COMMANDING OFFICER

JOHN A. BENDA
COMMANDER, UNITED STATES NAVY
76TH COMMANDING OFFICER
USS CONSTITUTION

CDR Benda was raised in Dedham, MA. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation in 2001, he was commissioned as an Ensign through the College of the Holy Cross NROTC program.

CDR Benda's sea tours include: USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) as Communications Officer. ASHLAND deployed with Amphibious Task Force East in January 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Amphibious Squadron Seven as Assistant Operations Officer embarked on USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6), which participated in Operation Unified Assistance; USS GARY (FFG 51) as his first department head tour from April 2009 until June 2010 where he deployed to the SOUTHCOM AOR and conducted counter narcotics operations. He was recognized for his efforts by being selected as the Commander Naval Surface Forces Leadership Award recipient. From July 2010 until Dec. 2011 he served as Operations Officer for Amphibious Squadron One, deploying again to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility embarked on USS BOXER (LHD 4) in support of theater security operations and national tasking; and aboard USS ESSEX (LHD 2) where he served as Damage Control Assistant.

Ashore, CDR Benda's first tour was served as Training Liaison Officer Afloat for Training Group Pacific. After taking several ships through the Unit Level Training Cycle, he was chosen as an individual augment to Joint Task Force 515 Forward as Operations Officer aboard USNS GySgt Fred W. Stockham (T-AK-3017) in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and as instructor and module lead for Expeditionary Warfare at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI.

From Nov. 2017 until Oct. 2019, CDR Benda served as the executive officer of USS CONSTITUTION, America's Ship of State.

CDR Benda is a Feb. 2013 graduate of the Naval War College.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ANDREW D. BROYLES
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, UNITED STATES NAVY
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
USS CONSTITUTION

LCDR Broyles was raised on a farm near Lamesa, TX and graduated from Lamesa High School in 1995. He enlisted into the Navy on 21 Jan 1999, attended boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL. He then transferred to Naval Nuclear Power School, Charleston, SC in Apr 1999. In Nov 2000, he transferred to USS BUFFALO (SSN 715), in Pearl Harbor, HI, as a Nuclear Field Electrician. While aboard USS BUFFALO he was promoted to Petty Officer First Class and became Electrical Division's Leading Petty Officer. In March 2004 he transferred back to Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit as an instructor. While there he received his degree in Human Resource Management.

LCDR Broyles was accepted to Officer Candidate School and received his Commission in Nov 2007. He transferred to USS HUE CITY (CG 66) in Mayport, FL. He held the jobs of Repair Officer, Ships Materials and Maintenance Officer, and Fire Control Officer. He completed his MBA with a management concentration at Jacksonville University while serving as a Naval Science Instructor at the ROTC Unit. In 2015 he transferred to USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) as the Combat Systems Officer, then to USS BILLINGS (LCS 15) Blue Crew "The Krakens" as the Operations Officer.

Qualifications include: Tactical Action Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, Engineering Officer of the Watch, Officer of the Deck (U/W), Anti Air Weapons Coordinator, Command Duty Officer and Anti-Terrorism Tactical Watch Officer.

Awards include: Four Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, and two Good Conduct Medals.

COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF

JANS VALDESPOU
COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF, UNITED STATES NAVY
COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF
USS CONSTITUTION

Born in Havana, Cuba, CMDCS Valdespou enlisted in the Navy from his hometown of Hialeah, FL on December 15, 1995. After completing Recruit Training and Electrician's Mate "A" School in Great Lakes, Illinois, he joined the Fleet as a member of ship's company aboard USS ELROD (FFG-55).

Aboard USS Elrod (FFG 55) as part of Engineering Department working in Electrical Division, he completed two deployments to FIFTH Fleet. In 2001, he transferred to Naval Reserve Center Clearwater, Fl. as a Reserve Pay and Training Petty Officer. Following his shore duty tour, he chose orders to USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) in La Maddalena, Italy. Part of Repair Department, he worked in the motor rewind shop, supporting the ship during humanitarian operations off the African coast. Following his sea tour, he returned to Great Lakes as a Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command (RTC), where he trained recruits and new Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs). While aboard RTC, he was selected for the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

After three years at RTC, CMDCS Valdespou transferred to guided missile cruiser USS ANZIO (CG 68) as the Electrical Division LCPO and Engineering Department LCPO (Top Snipe). In 2012, after earning the rank of SCPO, he reported to Afloat Training Group (ATG) Norfolk as Gas Turbine Division LCPO. During his tour at ATG, he was selected for CMDCS.

Prior to reporting aboard USS CONSTITUTION, CMDCS Valdespou completed a tour aboard USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) in April 2018 as the ship's Maintenance Material Manager (3MC) and Engineering Department LCPO. While aboard, the ship completed a deployment to FIFTH and SIXTH Fleet.

CMDCS Valdespou is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 200/Gray). His personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards) and various unit and campaign awards.