The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain John M. Rodgers, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from April 1990 to September 1991 while serving as Commander, Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Captain Rodgers’ unwavering direction, professional skill and brilliant leadership resulted in the very finest shipboard training being provided to the crews of 97 ships from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Coast Guard, and friendly foreign navies. The value of training conducted was never more apparent than when ships of the Atlantic Fleet were tasked to fight during the Persian Gulf War. A Surface Warfare Officer of many years’ experience, Captain Rodgers personally directed the continual upgrading of training programs in engineering, seamanship, damage control, and combat systems. His personal initiative and dedication leading the rigorous refresher and shakedown training syllabus ensured the combat readiness of thousands of Atlantic Fleet sailors. Through is careful supervision and superb command safety program, realistic and hazardous training was conducted without a single serious injury. Captain Rodgers’ personal involvement, support, and guidance maintained Fleet Training Group as the leader in providing training to units of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. By his outstanding leadership, sound judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty, Captain Rodgers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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 John M. Rodgers, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, Destroyer Squadron EIGHT from August 1983 through September 1986 and, concurrently, as Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWELVE from 16 August 1985 to 4 November 1985. A dynamic and resourceful leader, tactician, and material manager, Captain Rodgers led the largest Destroyer Squadron in the Navy to unequaled accomplishments in terms of readiness, retention, and reliability. His ships sailed Casualty Report-free on 25 deployments, passed 36 Operational Propulsion Plant Examinations, won three consecutive Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Golden Anchor retention awards, and won Navy-wide Ney awards for food service excellence in two separate categories for 1985. Captain Rodgers personally enhanced FFG 7 Class readiness through his determined efforts to increase material reliability of ship’s service diesel generator sets, LM-2500 gas turbine engines, MARK 13 guided missile launchers, and a variety of other equipment. His single-handed orchestration of the first Jacksonville operating area underway missile exercise in over five years contributed significantly to the combat readiness of Mayport missile ships. Captain Rodgers’ outstanding leadership, mature judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain John M. Rodgers, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director, Ship Characteristics and Improvement Board Staff, Washington, D.C., from April 1987 to March 1990. A superb leader, Captain Rodgers directed a headquarters team which developed and improved the warfighting and operational characteristics of ships. He brilliantly accomplished the Chief of Naval Operations’ objectives by producing new designs and major upgrades in ships including aircraft carriers, battleships, destroyers, amphibious, logistic, and oceanographic research ships. Captain Rodgers led the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations/Naval Sea Systems Command Design Team which produced, in record time, the designs for the mainstay of the future fleet, the innovative DDG-51 Flight II. His Chairmanship of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Frigate Replacement Program’s Assistant Steering Committee provided wise counsel and direction to this eight-national consortium. Captain Rodgers was able to clearly see and combine the mission, threat, and world of the future into a coherent vision of the systems we must develop today for tomorrow’s Navy. By his unsurpassed leadership, technical judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty, Captain Rodgers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.