The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander George P. Bardsley, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. SPADEFISH (SS-411) from 4 August 1984 to 5 November 1984. During this period, U.S.S. SPADEFISH conducted a superbly executed and extremely successful independent Arctic submarine operation. Displaying dynamic leadership, consummate skill, and decisiveness, Commander Bardsley operated U.S.S. SPADEFISH in an unforgiving and often hostile Arctic environment with high operational stress, closely resembling combat/wartime conditions. Through his remarkable personal initiative, professional ability, and sound judgment under potentially hazardous conditions, he was instrumental in achieving results which are considered the most significant and uniquely executed of its type in recent years. By his superb performance, uncommon resourcefulness, and inspiring devotion to duty, Commander Bardsley reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
U.S.S. Spadefish (SS-411)Action Date:
August 4, 1984 – November 5, 1984
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain George P. Bardsley, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director, Submarine Warfare Operations Research Department (SWORD), Navy Operational Intelligence Center, Suitland, Maryland from July 1988 to April 1990. Captain Bardsley’s strong leadership and proactive management style resulted in a record of extraordinary achievements of SWORD. Through his unyielding direction, SWORD provided unparalleled intelligence support to the United States Submarine Community and Navy and national decision makers. The impact of his efforts was a significant increase in the United States Navy understanding of Soviet Submarine operations and tactics, thereby improving the Navy’s ability to successfully conduct its peacetime and wartime missions. Captain Bardsley’s outstanding leadership, astute judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
U.S.S. Spadefish (SS-411)Action Date:
February 1983 – April 1983
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commander George P. Bardsley, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. SPADEFISH from February 1983 to April 1983. During this period, under Commander Bardsley’s guidance, U.S.S. SPADEFISH conducted a complex and extremely important independent submarine operation. Displaying dynamic leadership, consummate skill, and decisiveness, Commander Bardsley maintained U.S.S. SPADEFISH (SS-411), in a high state of readiness throughout an extended deployment. Through his outstanding performance, professional skill, and sound judgment under potentially hazardous conditions, Commander Bardsley was instrumental in achieving results which were considered the most significant achievement of this type in more than five years. By his distinctive achievements, resourcefulness, and inspiring devotion to duty, Commander Bardsley reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainAction Date:
March 31, 1992 – December 31, 1994
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Captain George P. Bardsley, United States Navy. Captain Bardsley distinguished himself by exceptionally superior service while serving as Chief, Command Center, Operations Logistics Directorate, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning Study Group; and as Chief, Strategic Planning Modernization Officer Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), from 31 March 1992 to 31 December 1994. Captain Bardsley’s leadership, creativity, enthusiasm, and technical competence were pivotal in the successful stand-up the United States Strategic Command and initiation of unprecedented changes in the development and production process of the nation’s nuclear war plan. He brought executive level leadership, imagination, astute insight, technical competence, and a vision of the future to bear on problems that threatened to outpace solutions available to our strategic planners. Under Captain Bardsley’s stewardship, major organizational, material, and operational improvements were made to the USSTRATCOM command center providing improved command and control of United States strategic forces and exceptional responsiveness to presidential direction. He also led a re-engineering effort of the strategic war planning system, which has been praised as an optimum solution that is both fiscally sound and technically prudent. This extraordinary initiative will result in a far more manageable and responsive planning infrastructure capable of reacting to taskings across the strategic and non-strategic spectrum. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Captain Bardsley culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect the highest credit upon himself, the United States Navy, and the Department of Defense.