Taking charge

The world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and America’s Ship of State is in Schaefer hands.

In a ceremony held in Boston on June 21, Medford native Commander Crystal L. Schaefer formally took command of the USS Constitution. Commander Schaefer is the 78th captain of USS Constitution in the ship’s 226-year history, dating back to 1797.

Schaefer is the second woman commanding officer in the ship’s history, taking over from Commander Billie J. Farrell during the ceremony last week.

Commander Schaefer previously

See SCHAEFER on page 8 served as the Assistant Reactor Officer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).

She attended school in Colby until moving to Medford and graduating from Medford Area Senior High School. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Schaefer is the daughter of Mike and Deb Schaefer of Gilman.

Schaefer earned her commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. Schaefer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Business and Administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

At sea, Schaefer served as Strike Officer on USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), Reactor Propulsion Division officer on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Operations Officer on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and Assistant Reactor Officer on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).

Ashore, Schaefer served as Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp; Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Officer in Charge for U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; and Prospective Commanding Officer Course Coordinator at the Surface Warfare Schools Command in Newport, RI.

Schaefer’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy.

She was launched in 1797, and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. The name “Constitution' was picked by President George Washington from among those suggested by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering.

USS Constitution played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and gained notoriety in the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The active-duty Sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history and maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.