Commander Donald R. ANDERSON assumed command of the USS Waddell (DDG-24) on 11 June 1974 while the ship was engaged in at-sea operations in the Tasman Sea off the coast of Australia.

Commander ANDERSON was born April 16, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies from Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania and was commissioned through the Villanova NROTC Program in June 1959.  He attended U.S. Naval Justice School, Newport Rhode Island followed by a tour in the Deck Department on USS TULANE (AKA-112) as Gunnery Officer and Assistant First Lieutenant.  Upon completion of Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer’s schooling in San Diego, he reported in USS Morton (DD-948) in March 1962 as Anti-Submarine Warfare/Fire Control Officer and later fleeting-up to Weapons Officer.

During the summer of 1964 Commander ANDERSON severed in the Enlisted Career Retention Section of the Bureau of Naval Personnel on temporary duty prior to receiving Navy post graduate education on the U.S. Defense Intelligence School, Washington D.C. from September 1964 to May 1965.  He then served in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam on the joint intelligence staff of Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam until June 1966.  Commander ANDERSON relieved as Commanding Officer, USS MARYSVILLE (EPCER-857) on July 19, 1966, and served in that capacity for two years prior to attending the School of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

Commander ANDERSON was Executive Officer, USS ROWAN (DD-782) from August 1969 to May 1971 after which he reported to the Chief of Naval Personnel as Placement Officer for the Pacific Fleet Cruiser Destroyer Force and subsequently Service Forces Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.  On July 7, 1973, Commander ANDERSON took command of USS KING (DLD-10) and remained in command until April 30, 1974, when USS KING was decommissioned for Anti-Air Warfare modernization. 

He holds a Master of Science in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington D.C. and is a sub-Specialist in International Relations Manpower and Personnel Management and Intelligence.

He was promoted to his present rank on 1 July 1973.  Commander ANDERSON and his wife, the former Carol Yvonne Clay of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are the parents of three children, Donald Jr., Cathy Lynn and Patricia Beth who presently reside in Coronado, California.