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[Pages S7203-S7204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER MICHAEL D. CASSADY
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay special tribute to
Commander Michael D. Cassady, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy.
Commander Cassady currently serves as the Program Manager, Naval
Advanced Medical Development at the Naval Medical Research Center and
will be released from Active Duty after almost 35 years of Active
military service on March 1, 2019. Commander Cassady is a native of
Millersport, OH, and I am pleased to recognize his distinguished
career.
Commander Cassady enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 21, 1985, and
after
[[Page S7204]]
completing initial training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego,
he earned designation as a hospital corpsman third class. In 1991,
Cassady graduated from University of Maryland University College and
received a commission on June 8, 1993 as an environmental health
officer.
From 1993 to 1999, Cassady completed tours at the U.S. Naval Hospital
Keflavik in Iceland and Branch Medical Clinic in Iwakuni, Japan, where
he increased the overall readiness and health of hospital staff and
improved testing of the base drinking water. In 2001, he deployed to
Australia in support of Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001 and later deployed
to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2002 to improve combat
readiness, combined-joint interoperability, and enhance security
relationships between the United States, Thailand, and Singaporean
forces. He subsequently served as a medical department and safety
inspector for the Board of Inspection and Survey, providing direct
support to the fleet; and as chief, medical concept and development,
Joint Forces Command, where he furthered joint warfighter capabilities
and supported U.S. Northern Command response and relief efforts post
Hurricane Katrina.
In 2006, he deployed to Iraq in support of combat operations, where
he served as the civil affairs public health section lead, Multi-
National Division in Baghdad. Upon returning from Iraq, he served as
the assistant officer in charge for the Navy Environmental and
Preventive Medicine Unit Two. Cassady also deployed as the medical
planning officer in Expeditionary Strike Group Two and U.S. Naval
Forces Central Command in Bahrain, where he was instrumental in
coordinating medical plans, guidance, and response to counter piracy
and Marine Corps operations, and health service support to the U.S.
FIFTH Fleet. His next two tours of duty were as the Environmental
Health Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and
the U.S. Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy. During these tours he
provided public health oversight and leadership. Commander Cassady
reported to his current and final tour of duty in July 2014 at the
Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, where he provides
program management, leadership, and key administrative direction.
Commander Cassady has spent the entirety of his adult life and over
15 of his 35 years of naval service deployed or stationed overseas in
the defense of the United States. Additionally, he holds a master of
science in management from Troy State University, a master of public
health degree from the Ohio State University, a master of arts in
national security and strategy from the Naval War College in 2007, and
a master of science in education from Old Dominion University, which he
completed in December of 2011.
Mr. President, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and Commander
Mike Cassady's family and friends in saluting this distinguished
officer's many contributions and sacrifices in defense of our great
Nation. It is fitting that the Senate today publicly recognizes his
service and wishes him, his wife Rohini, and their children, Rhyan,
Kassandra, Briana, and David, health, happiness, and success in the
years to come.
Congratulations, Commander Cassady, on completing an exemplary
career.
____________________
