Paul X. Rinn

Paul X. Rinn
CDR Paul X. Rinn, USN at the commissioning of USS Samuel B. Roberts
Born	1946 (age 70–71) The Bronx, New York City
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1968-1997
Rank	Captain
Commands held	USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Tanker War
Awards	Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal Navy Achievement Medal John Paul Jones Leadership Award
Relations	Wife: Pamela, and three children.

Captain Paul X. Rinn, USN (Ret.), was the first Commanding officer of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) and was in command when the ship struck a mine in the Persian Gulf on April 14, 1988.

Rinn was born in the Bronx in 1946. His father was a law school graduate and his mother was a grade school teacher. His older brother Greg was also a naval officer and inspired Rinn to follow in his footsteps. He attended an all-boys Roman Catholic high school in the Bronx Mount Saint Michael Academy graduating in 1964. He then attended Marist College graduating in 1968.

Rinn received his commission in 1968 through the Navy's Reserve Officer Candidate program at Navy Officer Candidate School. He served on USS Sarsfield (DD-837), a Gearing-class destroyer more than 20 years old at the time. In the early 1970s, Rinn worked as a counter insurgency adviser and military trainer along the Mekong River and was involved in combat on land. He was the weapons officer on USS Blakely (FF-1072), a Knox-class frigate. From 1976 through 1979 he served as Operations and Tactics Officer First Canadian Destroyer Squadron. In 1980 -81 He attended and graduated from the Naval War College with distinction. He then served as Executive officer on USS Bowen (FF-1079), another Knox-class frigate. Rinn was chief staff officer of Destroyer Squadron 36.from 1982 to 84

As a Commander, he was selected to command Samuel B. Roberts and was involved in her construction at Bath Iron Works as early as fall 1984. She was commissioned April 12, 1986 with Rinn commanding. Only months after the mining of FFG-58, he turned over Samuel B. Roberts to CDR John Townes III on June 20, 1988 at the end of his tour as previously planned.