In what is becoming a fixture during New York City's famed Fleet Week celebrations, Roslyn native Captain James Gregorski will be returning to the New York area as he leads USS Kearsarge into New York Harbor for the festivities that will last from May 21-28. Captain Gregorski is the commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship.

The USS Kearsarge, along with several other assault ships, guided missile cruisers, and guided missile destroyers, paraded into the harbor yesterday. For the remainder of the week, Kearsarge will berth in Manhattan, along with USS Leyte Gulf.

Hosted nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the City's celebration of the sea services. This event also provides an opportunity for the citizens in the tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services.

In addition to public visitations of participating ships from May 22 - 27, there will be a number of exhibits showing off the technology of our maritime services and the skilled expertise of service members.

This is the third time in recent years that USS Kearsarge has visited New York for Fleet Week ceremonies. The occasion always gives Captain Gregorski the chance to travel to Long Island and visit family members in Roslyn. On Sunday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Sunset Parade and reception abroad USS Kearsarge while it berths at Pier 88 on 48th St. and 12th Ave. on Manhattan's West Side.

More information is available on the official Fleet Week New York website at www.fleetweek.navy.mil.

Captain Gregorski is a native of Roslyn and a 1982 graduate of Western Michigan University. He was commissioned an Ensign on December 17, 1983 and designated a Naval Aviator in 1985.

After completing some stateside duties, Captain Gregorski, in the early 1990s, conducted operations aboard USS Saratoga while deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, flying numerous reconnaissance missions off the coasts of Syria, Israel and Libya.

In September 2001, Captain Gregorski reported to the USS John F. Kennedy as Executive Officer. Shortly after reporting, he developed and was later instrumental in executing an emergent repair and complex carrier overhaul plan that returned Kennedy to full combat ready status for two deployments. During his tour Kennedy steamed over 77,000 nautical miles and launched numerous strike sorties for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Captain Gregorski reported to USS Kearsarge in February 2005 as Executive Officer. He deployed to the Arabian Gulf with the 26 Marine Expeditionary Strike Group embarked. During his tour Kearsarge supported Operation Iraqi Freedom with Marines deployed from Saudi Arabia to Iraq in addition to thwarting an Al Qaeda terrorist attack that resulted in zero injuries to Sailors and Marines in Aqaba, Jordan.

Captain Gregorski has accumulated over 3800 flight hours and 679 carrier arrested landings. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and various other campaign awards. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and holds a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.