Award for excellence

LTJG Johannes Schonberg LTJG Johannes Schonberg, who has Stanwood roots, was given the Admiral Arleigh Burke Surface Warfare Operational Excellence Award in Washington, D.C. last month.

The commanding officer of the USS THACH, on which Schonberg served, wrote, “LTJG Schonberg has served superbly as operations officer after his department head was sent on temporary assignment elsewhere.”

Orchestrating and executing events for his ship and three destroyers, Schonberg organized a highly complex scheme of maneuvers. From coordinating duties for the four ships, to conducting operations in the Fifth Fleet in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, Schonberg allowed the THACH to meet post-deployment commitments.

His ability to coordinate supplies ensured replenishments of over a million dollars worth of parts, as well as other supplies.

His plan for THACH to arrive in San Diego 14 days earlier than expected, resulted in a fuel cost savings of over $250,000. “He accomplished all this while also superbly standing watch as a tactical action officer,” said Commodore Driscoll of Destroyer Squadron Seven, who gave his “strongest endorsement” for Schonberg to receive the excellence award.

A graduate of the Naval Academy, Schonberg reported to the USS THACH in July of 2007. His father is Kristian Schonberg, a 1973 graduate of Stanwood High School, and his grandfather is Dr. Roy Schonberg of Camano Island. An uncle, Paul Schonberg, also lives in Stanwood. LTJG Schoenberg is currently in Newport, RI at the LCS OOD school, training for his first deployment with FREEDOM in mid- February.