▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁Row an ▁was ▁hand ▁picked ▁as ▁the ▁pros pective ▁Command ing ▁Officer ▁of ▁the ▁Navy ' s ▁first ▁Communic ation ▁Major ▁Rel ay ▁Sh ip ▁. ▁ ▁He ▁served ▁in ▁this ▁position ▁until ▁the ▁ship ' s ▁commission ing ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 6 4 . ▁ ▁At ▁that ▁time , ▁Row an ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁Ann apolis ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁that ▁position ▁until ▁April ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁by ▁Captain ▁John ▁New land . ▁As ▁the ▁first ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁USS ▁Ann apolis , ▁the ▁ship ▁has ▁the ▁distinction ▁because ▁of ▁his ▁direct ▁invol vement ▁and ▁planning ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁" f lo ating ▁communic ations " ▁station ▁and ▁first ▁ship ▁to ▁transmit ▁messages ▁ship - to - sh ore ▁via ▁satellite . ▁ ▁Ret irement ▁and ▁death ▁Captain ▁Row an ▁res ided ▁in ▁Spring field , ▁Virginia , ▁P ine h urst , ▁North ▁Carolina , ▁and ▁Williams burg , ▁Virginia , ▁with ▁his ▁wife ▁Mary ▁until ▁his ▁death ▁on ▁October ▁ 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁He ▁received ▁a ▁bur ial ▁with ▁full ▁hon ors ▁in ▁Ar ling ton ▁National ▁C emetery ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁Military ▁awards ▁and ▁decor ations ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 1 9 ▁birth s ▁Category : 2 0 1 2 ▁death s ▁Category