Commander James F. Murphy was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and was commissioned Ensign upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1949. He attended Navy Flight Training and was designated a naval aviator in May of 1951. After attending several Navy schools he served four months as Personnel Officer of VC-33 and went from there to the USS TOLEDO (CA-133) as First Lieutenant. Upon promotion to Lieutenant he joined the Destroyer Navy for a year and a half as Operations Officer aboard the USS JOHN HOOD (DD-655).

    In 1956 Commander Murphy was a student at General Line School, thereafter serving as First Lieutenant and Navigator on the oiler USS ELOKOMIN (AO-55). He received a Masters Degree in physics at U.S. Navy Post Graduate School, and worked as a student physicist at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory. After serving as Executive Offieer aboard the USS INGERSOLL (DD-652) and the USS MAHAN (DLG-11), Commander Murphy went back to the U.S. Naval Academy, this time as an instructor in the Weapons Department. He was promoted to his present rank of Commander in May of 1964, and became Commanding Officer of GURKE in August, 1966. He is presently serving as Commander, Escort Squadron Seven. His wife is the former Lotus Annette AIlbee of Arlington, Virginia. They have two sons, Jim, 15, and Michael, 13.