FALMOUTH – A Cape Cod Community College graduate and Falmouth native is serving as the commanding officer of one of the Navy’s newest amphibious warships.
Captain Douglas Verissimo, a 27-year veteran, was put in command of the USS New Orleans last year.
The New Orleans is a 24-ton vessel designed to deliver marines in and out of war zones.
Verissimo is the highest ranking officer aboard the San Diego-based San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. The ship is longer than two football fields at 684 feet, 105 feet wide and weighs more than 24,000 tons. Four diesel engines can push the ship through the water at more than 24 miles per hour.
USS New Orleans is the fourth Navy ship to be named for the city of New Orleans, and is the second vessel in the San Antonio-class of high-tech amphibious assault ships.
Verissimo grew up in the same home for 22 years and attended Cape Cod Community College where he earned an associate degree. He was accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet program, which led him to his 27-year career in the Navy.
“I am one of those guys that flew airplanes and I am now on track to be eligible for command of an aircraft carrier,” said Verissimo. “The New Orleans is my tour to show I can command a warship at sea before the Navy entrusts me to command a nuclear-powered warship at sea.”
He also said he is proud of the work his sailors are doing, as his job is to lead the New Orleans’ 427-member crew, protecting and defending America on the world’s oceans.
“I am amazed everyday at how hard this crew works to get the mission done,” said Verissimo. “There is some inspiring work that goes on aboard this ship. My officers and crew come to work everyday and do the nation’s business. If given the right tools and direction, you can get some phenomenal things done and that is my challenge to give that right direction and keep the focus in the right places.”
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard USS New Orleans. Approximately 46 officers and 381 enlisted men and women make up the ship’s company, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly — this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the engines. Another 700 or so form the deployable Marine Corps battalion and New Orleans is capable of transporting the battalion and landing them in hostile territory via helicopters, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and air-cushioned landing craft.
“We are a work horse,” said Verissimo. “We load up and bring the required equipment and Marines to shore. We don’t shoot missiles or launch aircraft but our crew works hard and we are a good working class part of the United States Navy. We are going to keep trying to improve our Sailors’ quality of life as best as we can by rewarding them for all their hard work.”
Several U.S cities have namesake ships sharing their name. However, none share a bond and a back-story quite like the city of New Orleans and its namesake ship.
The USS New Orleans was built in Avondale, Louisiana, and experienced the disaster of Hurricane Katrina along with the city of New Orleans.
“The storm affected our ship,” said Verissimo. “The ship was already named but it added some of the emotion, ethos and resilience of the people of New Orleans to the ship. There is a special and unique bond that this ship has with New Orleans because of where and when it was built.”
As the commanding officer of one of the U.S. Navy’s high-tech amphibious assault ships, Verissimo said he is proud to lead a war-fighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“I’m a hometown kid that really fell in love with the Navy,” said Verissimo. “I’m very happy and I am going to keep serving until my watch is up.”
