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[Page S1618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN JON ``JR'' RODGERS
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, today I honor one of my
constituents, CAPT Jon ``JR'' Rodgers of the U.S. Navy, who is retiring
in June after three decades of dedicated service to our great Nation.
JR has spent the last 2 years of his career serving the U.S. Congress
as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs. In this role, JR
maintained oversight of the Navy team that provides Members and
committees of Congress with information concerning the programs of the
Department of the Navy.
JR's Tennessee roots run deep. The son of an air traffic control
chief, he began life in Humbolt, TN, married his beautiful wife Sherry
Masters from Celina, TN, and plans to return to our great State once
his naval service has ended.
This patriot's naval career began by enlisting as a nuclear trained
electronics technician until receiving an NROTC scholarship to Cornell
University. He graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in
agriculture engineering technologies and received his commission as a
surface warfare officer in 1990. JR continued his education by
attending the National Defense University, graduating with honors from
the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with a masters of science
degree in national resource strategy. He also attended the Naval War
College in Newport, RI, with a masters of arts in national security
strategy.
His sea duty assignments include tours on the USS England, CG 22, and
the USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD 6, as a plank owner, where he received
the Surface Navy Association's Arleigh Burke award for Operational
Excellence. He also served as executive officer aboard the USS
Cleveland, LPD 7, during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
as part of Amphibious Task Force West.
More recently, JR commanded the mighty USS Makin Island, LHD 8, the
first Navy ship with hybrid electric propulsion, where he completed a
successful deployment to 5th and 7th Fleet. He also commanded USS
Ponce, AFSB 15, as the Navy's first dedicated afloat forward staging
base permanently deployed to Fifth Fleet.
JR's overseas experience is just as impressive. He served as the U.S.
European Command J3 chief of staff and branch head for the crisis
action group during Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. He
commanded Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Six, where he led
over 600 Active and Reserve sailors on worldwide security missions that
included the USNS Comfort Theater Security Cooperation missions
throughout South America. He served as commander Task Unit Northern
Arabian Gulf on the Iraq Al Basrah, ABOT, and Khor al-Amaya, KAAOT, oil
terminals point defense mission, Panama and Suez Canal Embarked
Security Team transits, and Operation Vigilant Mariner in Rota, Spain.
I want to thank JR for his almost 30 years of loyal service to this
Nation. He has made a lasting and significant contribution to the U.S.
Navy and our Nation. I wish him, his wife, and their daughter all the
best as they begin this new chapter in their live.
____________________