Captain Dan M. LaPorte

Master, USNS Niagara Falls

Military Sealift Command

Captain LaPorte, the present master of USNS Niagara Falls, began employment with Commander Military Sealift Command, Pacific in January 1983 having come from the commercial merchant marine industry. Captain LaPorte's first job assignment was as able seaman on USNS Taluga. In 1984 Captain LaPorte attained his third officer's license, issued by the United States Coast Guard, and was assigned to USNS Silas Bent as third officer. Over the next nine years, Captain LaPorte sailed on MSC ships in various positions of increasing responsibility, including: third officer (watch and cargo), second officer cargo, second officer watch (navigator), first officer cargo, and first officer across a myriad of MSC vessel types including naval fleet auxiliary force and special mission ships, and a cable ship. Captain LaPorte earned his USCG master, unlimited license in 1993 and first sailed as master the following year. In 1994 he was awarded both the MSC Employee of the Year and MSC Mariner of the Year awards. Captain LaPorte was promoted to permanent master in 1997.

In 1998 Captain LaPorte was selected for duty as MSC's exchange officer to the United Kingdom's royal fleet auxiliary force. Captain LaPorte, living along the southern UK coast from 1998 to 2000, was instrumental in supporting the exchange of ideas and practices between the logistic support fleets of the two allied nations.

Upon returning to MSC in late 2000, Captain LaPorte took command of USNS Walter S. Diehl which was deployed in Seventh Fleet area of operations. During the 911 attack, Captain LaPorte commanded the only fleet oiler located in the Seventh Fleet. USNS Walter S. Diehl was considered instrumental, by Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, in serving the large surge of combat platforms that transited Seventh Fleet for the north Indian Ocean. USNS Walter S. Diehl, under Captain LaPorte's command, went on to make numerous voyages transporting cargo, cargo fuel, and personnel to and from US naval forces, to include expeditionary strike and amphibious ready groups, deployed in the north Arabia Sea during air strike operations supporting US combat troops in Afghanistan.

Captain LaPorte also served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as master of USNS John Ericsson and USNS Niagara Falls. These back-to-back tours earned him the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal for service to US combat troops.

Most recently, in 2005, Captain LaPorte commanded USNS Niagara Falls in support of USNS Mercy humanitarian operations. These operations enabled Niagara Falls to take part in: East Timor relief, Nias Island earthquake disaster and Papa, New Guinea displaced persons support operations. Each operation demanded a different support requirement from the ship and crew for which they received many accolades.

Capt LaPorte is currently overseeing USNS Niagara Falls deactivation planning as the vessel's service life will come to an end in September 2008. The ship has served the United States, the Navy, and MSC since 1967 and has done so with distinction.