CDR Rob Franklin

Past Executive Officer, USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)

22 May 2020

CDR Rob Franklin hails from Marietta, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and was commissioned in 2003. He also attended the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Master of Business Administration in 2010.CDR Franklin’s division officer tours were in USS CARNEY (DDG 64) homeported in Mayport, FL where he served as Strike Officer, Fire Control Officer, and Main Propulsion Assistant.

CDR Franklin served as Engineer Officer in USS MILIUS (DDG 69) homeported in San Diego, CA and as Engineer Officer in USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI. He served as the Tactical Action Officer for the first-ever intercept o​f a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile target by a SM-3 Block IB interceptor during Flight Test Mission 22 (STELLAR RAVEN) – the longest exoatmospheric intercept to date in October 2013.

Most recently, CDR Franklin served as Commanding Officer of USS ANZIO (CG 68) homeported in Norfolk, VA during Phase 1 of the Cruiser Modernization Program.

His ashore tours include Current Operations Officer, Center for Surface Combat Systems; Tactical Action Officer for the first all-Navy Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Battery (TF HURRICANE) in Baghdad, Iraq; and Operations Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff for Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.

CDR Franklin has deployed five times in his tenure as a Surface Warfare Officer, including deployments to every numbered Fleet. 

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific’s Tactician of the Year Award in 2013, Lanny King Memorial Leadership Award in 2005, and various unit and campaign awards.