Captain William Eugene Donnelly, Jr. 20 October 1966 - 27 March 1968 Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1944(?) Retired with the rank of unknown Captain William E. Donnelly, Jr. assumed command of USS Ranger (CVA-61) October 20, 1967, reporting aboard from duty as the Executive assistant and Senior Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Capt. Donnelly was born in Dayton, OH, April 22, 1921. He attended Miami of Ohio for one year prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy July 1, 1940. After a tour of duty in Europe, he returned to the United States for flight training and was designated a naval Aviator in 1945. Capt. Donnelly has graduated from a variety of naval schools including the Weaponeers Course at Sandia Base, NM, Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, MD, and the Command and Staff and Naval Warfare Courses at the naval War College. Prior to taking command of USS Ranger (CVA-61) Captain Donnelly's assignments included a tour as Commanding officer of VF-141, Executive Officer of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), Commanding Officer of USS Winston (AKA-94) and a member of the Secretary of the Navy's Talk Force on Personnel Retention.