Exposition Speakers Salute McNeill

By PETER ATKINSON, Deputy Editor

There was an air of nostalgia at the Navy League’s 2005 Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Exposition in Washington, D.C. For National President Sheila M. McNeill and each of the event’s featured daily guest speakers, this year’s SAS would be their last in their current posts.

McNeill will hand over the reins as national president to John Panneton at the Navy League National Convention in June in Norfolk, Va. And by the end of this year, Navy Secretary Gordon R. England, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will have left their current positions. So all took the opportunity to reflect during their remarks at SAS.

“Sheila and I are marching toward a day of finality this summer,” said Clark, who will step down as CNO in June. “You have done such a great job as national president, you have set the bar high,” he said of McNeill’s tenure, adding that as her successor, Panneton has “got a big set of shoes to fill, but I have every expectation that you will build on what Sheila has done.”

Clark noted this was his fifth SAS and said “I will go just about anywhere to be with people like you. Please know that this sailor greatly appreciates the Navy League and all that you do to support the sons and daughters of America.”

Prior to Clark’s remarks at the CNO luncheon March 24, SAS Chairwoman Sharon Gurke introduced McNeill as “the tigress of the Navy League” and noted that “she is the epitome of a charismatic leader and she will be sorely missed by all of us.”

England, who was nominated to succeed Paul Wolfowitz as deputy defense secretary March 31, echoed those sentiments during the Secretary of the Navy luncheon March 22. “You have served with grace, distinction and confidence and had a good time doing it,” he said.

England also welcomed Panneton, a retired Marine, and joked that given recent legislative attempts to add “Marine Corps” to the Secretary of the Navy’s title, perhaps the Navy League might do the same.

But he added that the organization’s continued support of the sea services, as exemplified by events such as SAS, show that, “the sun never sets on the Navy League. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud.”

During his remarks at the Sea-Air-Space luncheon March 23, Myers emphasized service, noting that “this is the most important time for people who want to serve because we have an awful lot at stake.”

He said events like SAS help bring that point home, especially to those in industry who may do business with the military. “My hat’s off to you and what you’ve done,” said Myers, who is scheduled to retire Sept. 30.

England Presents Safety Awards

Following his remarks at the Secretary of the Navy lunch March 22, England presided over the presentation of the Adm. Vern Clark and Gen. James L. Jones Safety Awards, during which he was joined by “Buzz the Safety Bee,” the mascot for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard’s Voluntary Protection Program.

Three safety awards were presented this year. The inaugural awards were given at the 2004 SAS.

In introducing the awards, England noted: “Safety to me is like ethics. It’s not about slogans, it’s about a belief. … It’s a leadership issue and these are leaders who have done a wonderful job taking care of people. The Navy is a family, and families protect one another.”

The 2005 safety award recipients were:

Adm. Vern Clark Safety Award for the U.S. Navy, individual — Navy Capt. Joseph J. Paulis, force safety officer for commander, Naval Air Forces, headquartered in San Diego. He developed and implemented the Mishap Reduction Plan for Navy and Marine Corps Aviation that helped drive the Navy’s aviation mishap rates down to their second lowest rate in history.

Adm. Vern Clark Safety Award, unit — The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Mainte-nance Facility was selected because of its outstanding safety record and for becoming the first shipyard to be accepted into the Occupational Safety and Heath Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program. England saluted the Puget Sound group for its efforts in reducing accidents through innovative safety programs. In turn, the group’s mascot, “Buzz the Safety Bee,” presented England with a plaque in honor of his dedication to safety.

Gen. James L. Jones Safety Award for the U.S. Marine Corps — Marine Air Group 14, of Cherry Point, N.C., distinguished itself by demonstrating superior safety performance through the development of a safety mentorship program. Through its efforts, motor vehicle mishaps were reduced by 45 percent and alcohol-related incidents at Cherry Point fell from 16 to five, England said.

England, his wife Dorothy and three Navy League corporate members — Lockheed Martin Corp., General Dynamics Corp. and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. — endowed the awards.

Moosally Is Given 2005 Nimitz Award

Fred P. Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, was the recipient of the Navy League’s 2005 Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz Award. Moosally was presented with the award by McNeill and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee at the Sea-Air-Space banquet March 23 that was also attended by Clark and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins.

“Fred Moosally embodies the very spirit of military-industry teamwork,” said McNeill. “In uniform and in his civilian career, he works to ensure that those who defend this great nation have the weapons and systems to prevail in conflict.”

Hagee, a classmate of Moosally’s at the Naval Academy, lauded the retired Navy captain on behalf of all of the sea services “for helping us build the most important part of sea basing: Sea Shield,” to provide sea-based theater and strategic defense.

Moosally was selected for the Nimitz Award for his contribution to maintaining the United States’ maritime strength. As president of Maritime Systems & Sensors, Moosally has led the Aegis Weapon System to new levels of reliability and maintainability through the introduction of an open architecture design, allowing more rapid, affordable upgrades to the U.S. Navy and allied navies around the world.

As co-leader of Integrated Coast Guard Systems, Moosally has set the course for the ongoing Deep-water program. He has also led the team that will bring the U.S. Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship to life, and has driven the development of a sea-based Missile Defense System.

McNeill Meets With Korean Delegation

As SAS concluded, McNeill met with members of a military, industry and diplomatic delegation from South Korea. The contingent included the Korean Embassy’s naval attaché and the secretary general of the Republic of Korea Sea Power League and gave McNeill an opportunity to get acquainted with the dignitaries prior to her planned trip to the region.

McNeill was scheduled in April to meet with Navy League councils in Japan, Singapore, Guam and South Korea. During the trip she also will be visiting the Korean Naval Academy and touring military facilities in each of the countries.