Commander Ben Cantu

Commanding Officer, USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr (DDG-124)

A 2004 graduate of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program from Auburn University, Commander Cantu earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He is originally from Tennessee. A career surface warfare officer, Commander Cantu's shipboard assignments include: USS Mason (DDG 87) as Gunnery Officer and Auxiliaries Officer, HSV 2 SWIFT (Blue Crew) as Operations Officer, and both USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Princeton (CG 59) as Operations Officer. Ashore, he served as Surface Warfare Junior Officer Assignment and Distribution Officer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee and Action Officer on the OPNAV Staff for the Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (N13) in Arlington, Virginia. Most recently, he served as Executive Officer, USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55). His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

Commander Elizabeth A. McGuinnis

Executive Officer, USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr (DDG-124)

A 2007 graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Commander McGuinnis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration. She is originally from Midland, Michigan and commissioned through ROTC in December 2007.

A Surface Warfare Officer, she served tours in USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) as Communications Officer, USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52) as Training Officer, and USS SHOUP (DDG 86) as Weapons Officer and fleeted up to Combat Systems Officer.

Ashore, CDR McGuinnis served as a Tomahawk Mission Planner at COMUSNAVCENT in Bahrain and earned a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Manpower Systems Analysis Management as well as JPME Phase I. She completed a tour as N74, Action Officer for Training and Readiness to Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic and then as the Reserve Program Director for CNSL.

Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

Master Chief Steven C. Roberts Jr.

Command Master Chief, Harvey C. Barnum JR (DDG 124)

Master Chief Roberts was born in Lakewood, Colorado and graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1994. He then joined the United States Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL in 1996, and then Aviation Electronics Technician ‘A’ School, in Pensacola, FL.

His first duty assignment was Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Maintenance Unity (SFWPMU) El Centro, CA, where he qualified as an F-14 and F/A-18 A/B/C/D Plane Captain and maintainer. In 1999, he reported to AIMD Oceana, VA as part of the Sea Operational Detachment (SeaOP Det) where he deployed onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). It was during this time when he was advanced to Second Class Petty Officer. In July of 2003, he was selected for instructor duty at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Oceana, VA. During this time, he was advanced to First Class Petty Officer. In July of 2006 He received orders to USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) and was assigned as the CASS work center and divisional LPO.

In June of 2009, he reported to Commander, Fleet Readiness Center (COMFRC) in Patuxent River, MD, where he worked as a production analysis. During that time, he volunteered to complete an Individual Augmented (IA) deployment in Bagram, Afghanistan, as a corrections officer. While deployed in 2011, he was selected, for Chief Petty Officer.

Subsequent tours afterwards include USS AMERICA (LHA-6) and HSM-78, where he served as aircraft division LCPO and flight deck coordinator while deployed again on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). After advancing to Senior Chief, he reported to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as a Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) coordinator and Computerize Self Evaluation Checklist (CSEC) maintainer. Afterwards, he reported to HSC-28, and worked as the Quality Assurance Supervisor. During his tour with the DRAGON WHALES, he led a detachment as the Senior Enlisted Leader while deployed onboard USS BATAAN (LHD-5). It was during this tour that he was selected to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2020.

While assigned to USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) as the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Leading Chief Petty Officer, he volunteered for an IA assignment in the kingdom of Bahrain as Command Master Chief of Isa Air Base, where he was selected for the Command Senior Enlisted Program. He is currently assigned to PCD HARVEY C. BARNUM JR (DDG-124) as the Command Master Chief.

His academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Master Training Specialist. He also attended the SEA class 207, in Newport, RI. He graduated from the CMC/COB course on 9 December 2022 (Class 23020).