CDR Robert L. Franklin III

Past Commanding Officer, USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53)

24 November 2021 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’s department head tours were 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 also served as Commanding Officer of USS ANZIO (CG 68) homeported in Norfolk, VA during Phase 1 of the Cruiser Modernization Program and most recently as Executive Officer in USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53), homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI and Everett, WA.

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 six 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 (five awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

He assumed command of JOHN PAUL JONES in November 2021.