Cmdr. Lennard D. Cannon
Commanding Officer, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117)
04 February 2021
CDR Cannon is a native of Decatur, Georgia and a 2000 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His first sea tour was onboard USS ELLIOT (DD 967) where served as Damage Control Assistant and earned his Surface Warfare Officer qualification. During this tour he deployed with the John C. Stennis Battle Group to the Arabian Gulf. He completed his second sea tour onboard USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) where he served as the Fire Control Officer.
After completing his Division Officer tours he reported to the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Systems Engineering and Analysis.
He completed two Department Head tours onboard USS HUE CITY (CG 66) serving as both Weapons and Combat Systems Officers. During this tour USS HUE CITY deployed to the Arabian Gulf as the Air Defense Commander for both the Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Groups.
Upon completion of his Department Head tours he reported to the Staff of the Commander United States Fifth Fleet where he served as the Joint Fires Officer responsible for all Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles training, planning, and execution for the Fifth Fleet AOR.
After his C5F tour he reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) staff where he served as the Current Operations Branch Chief.
Following his OPNAV tour he served as the Flag Aide to VADM William Hilarides, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command.
Following his Flag Aide tour he was assigned to the Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships, as the Full Ship Shock Trials Officer where he was responsible for scheduling, planning and executing Full Ship Shock Trials on USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) and USS JACKSON (LCS 6).