Commander Averett was raised in Columbus,Georgia and enlisted in the Navy at age 17. He completed Radioman “A” and advanced “C” schools at Service School Command San Diego, California in May 1982. He spent his first ten years on the USS PAPAGO (ATF-160) and other Service Squadron ships, NAVSATCOMMFAC Northwest, and USS GETTYSBURG (CG-64).In January 1992, Commander Averett was commissioned under the Limited Duty Officer program and completed OIS Training in Pensacola, Florida. Returning to sea, he deployed to multiple AORs, qualified as an Officer of the Deck, Surface Warfare Officer, and served as Communications Officer and Assistant Operations Officer onboard USS DENVER (LPD-9) until June 1995.
From July 1995 to October 1997, Commander Averett was assigned to the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic Headquarters as a Staff Operations Officer and Deputy Commander for LCO Norfolk. Additionally, he served as NATO Liaison Officer aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74) for JWID-97. In November 1997, he reported aboard USS TARAWA (LHA-1) as CIS Department Head and made multiple deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and Red Sea until December 2000.
CDR Averett’s other sea duty assignments included: C5I Department Head, USS NASSAU (LHA-4); Combat Systems Maintenance Officer, USS NIMITZ (CVN-68); Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) C4I Officer and Staff Communicator (N6), Commander Amphibious Group TWO; Combat Systems Officer, USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER (CVN-69). During this span, he completed five deployments to the Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific AORs. Commander Averett’s shore assignments include: Executive Officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Diego Garcia and Officer-in-Charge of NCTAMS PACIFIC Detachment, Diego Garcia. He also served at Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Millington, Tennessee as the LDO/CWO IP Detailer, IP Community Placement Officer, and PERS-47 Budget Director. On August 30th, 2010, Commander Averett assumed command of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Bahrain.Commander Averett is a graduate of Columbia College, Joint Forces Staff College, Information Professional Senior Officers Course, and holds a Master of Science Degree in Information Technology from Capella University. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with four gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal with an oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and various other service medals and ribbons.
Please note: Sea duty, sea duty, sea duty, and then some more sea duty! I suspect he will have a very successful command tour. I hope the IP community has some O6 LDO billets because this guy deserves one. Plain and simple, this guy is a kick butt Naval officer. I salute you Commander and skipper. 28 years of Naval service.
10 comments:
They won't need an O6 LDO Billet for him, as he won't have time for consideration before he hits 30 YOS. He's a poster child for why the entire IDC must move to the LDO Onramp model. Hope he can lateral transfer to RL during this tour...We need 30 YCS out of guys like Steve!
Not to mention, he is a Mustang but NOT an LDO. Refer to the new IP Officer's Listing...
I'm a new reader of your blog, Captain, and I really like to see entries like this one. It's a nice break from the tales of sub-par COs getting sacked for choosing to forget what it means to be a leader.
I love professional discussions and am responding to anonymous above with regard to total YOS for LDOs. LCDR and junior are limited to 30 total YOS, however, CDR is limited to 35 total YOS,and CAPT is 38 YOS .. unless things have changed in the past 4 years. Don't agree with the poster child comment, however. Personal opinion is that each commissioning program brings unique perspectives to the wardroom which only strengthens the leadership chain of any unit. Impressed with the fact that CDR Averette as been able to earn his Master's through all of that sea duty. He must have been a very superior RM to picked up for LDO at the 10 year point in his enlisted career (along with strong leaders who capitalized on his work ethic). He's probably the first one to tell you that there are alot of folks behind his success.
Congratulations to Commander Averett on an outstanding career.
If you think the Naval Academy issues a moral compass on induction day, you're wrong. Every commissioning source produces its good and bad leaders.
I agree that LDO's have great experience, but I have definitely met a few that have questionable leadership skills. "Diversity" in commissioning sources is key to having a balanced command.
The IDC LDO on-ramp model would cause problems when trying to fill O-5/O-6 billets. 95% of the JO LDO's I talk to plan on retiring at 20-23 years as O-3's/O-4's.
Anonymous 10:14 AM:
According to his bio, he is was commissioned as an LDO.
CDR Averett was commissioned a LDO and laterally transferred to IP in 2008.
Anonymous 4:30 PM:
Thanks. That is a great thing for the Navy and for us.
Yes, sir. Agree!
I served with Steve afloat and ashore and am proud to know him. He is the GOOD EXAMPLE we all should strive to be. He's selected for Captain and will serve honorably drawing strength from his full career experience. Once a Radioman, always a Radioman, once an LDO, always an LDO, once a leader, forever a leader.
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