SUNY Potsdam Athletics

James Mullen played four years of varsity basketball for the Bears, and was captain of the soccer team in 1958, in the sport's inaugural season at Potsdam. Mullen exhibited his leadership skills on the basketball court, serving as basketball team captain during his senior season. A hard worker and fierce competitor, Mullen led the basketball team in both scoring and rebounding during his junior and senior seasons. A 6-foot-1 center, he consistently outplayed larger opponents. Mullen was selected to the State Teachers College Invitational Basketball Tournament All-Star team in 1958.
    
Mullen carried his role as leader into a 30-year career with the United States Navy. His distinguished service includes duty on several destroyers, aircraft carriers and a battleship, and allowed for residences in Japan and the Philippines. Mullen’s first command came as Captain of the 1,900-ton destroyer escort, USS Kretchmer (DE-329) in 1972. In 1975, he was named as the first commanding officer of the USS O'Brien (DD-975), an 8,000-ton destroyer, and served as that ship’s Captain for three years. Mullen also served as Commodore of the eight-ship Destroyer Squadron 13, which provided anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface escort support for the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Captain Mullen operated his commands in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, South China Sea, Eastern and Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
   
Mullen earned several awards while in Naval service, including the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy Commendation Medal and Vietnam Services Medal. Mullen retired from the Navy in 1991.
   
His permanent residence is in San Diego, Calif., where he lives with his wife Maria. The Mullens have two children, Dr. James Mullen III and Mary Margaret Dodd, both of whom also reside in San Diego.