[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 83 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        THE RETIREMENT OF REAR ADM. PATRICK W. DRENNON, CEC, USN

  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, it has come to my attention that Rear Adm. 
Patrick W. Drennon will be retiring from the Navy after some 33 years 
of honorable and distinguished service.
  He most recently served as the Director, Facilities and Engineering 
Division (N44) for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), 
Washington, DC. In this capacity he has provided timely support and 
accurate information on Navy facility and engineering plans and 
programs to the Members of the Senate and our professional and personal 
staffs.
  Admiral Drennon was previously the Commander of Western Division, 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command [NAVFACENGCOM], headquartered in 
San Bruno, CA. This was following duty as Deputy Commander for Planning 
and Assistant Commander for Facilities and Real Estate at NAVFACENGCOM 
Headquarters in Alexandria, VA, and as Assistant for Civil Engineering 
(OP-04E) to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), 
Washington, DC.
  His other duty assignments have included: Assistant Resident Officer 
in Charge of Construction in Key West, FL; Public Works Officer at the 
Naval Facility and the Navy Representative for Construction while on 
the staff of the Commander, U.S. Forces in the Azores; Operations 
Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One on two deployments 
to Vietnam; an instructor at the Civil Engineer Corps Officers School 
at Port Hueneme, CA; and an Exchange Officer with the Mediterranean 
Division, Corps of Engineers, Livorno, Italy. While working with the 
Corps' Mediterranean Division, he served as the program manager for the 
planning and design of King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia.
  Admiral Drennon also served in the Seabee Division, NAVFACENGCOM 
Headquarters; on the staff of the then-Director, Shore Activities 
Planning and Programming Division (OP-44) for the Chief of Naval 
Operations, Washington, DC; and as the Executive Officer of the Public 
Works Center and Resident Officer in Charge of Construction in San 
Diego, CA.
  His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat ``V'' 
and a Gold Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with a Gold Star, and 
the Navy Achievement Medal.
  Rear Admiral Drennon has become widely acknowledged as a leader and 
visionary in the Civil Engineer Corps. As a fellow
 Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, I can say that this is no real surprise as 
Rear Admiral Dennon began his distinguished naval career upon his 
commissioning out of the NROTC Program at the Georgia Institute of 
Technology.

  Mr. President, over the past several years many communities have 
experienced great anxiety and turmoil as a result of the Department of 
Defense's base closure process. Rear Admiral Drennon has played a vital 
role in promoting effective communications and harmonious working 
relationships in the Navy's base realignment and closure implementation 
process. He has assisted local civic leaders throughout the country in 
working through many challenging situations associated with base 
closure and realignment actions. Rear Admiral Drennon has been equally 
recognized and appreciated by all who have come to know him.
  A man of Rear Admiral Drennon's talent and integrity is rare indeed, 
and while his honorable service will be genuinely missed, it gives me 
great pleasure today to recognize him before my colleagues and to wish 
him, his wife, Cheryl, and his family every success as he brings to a 
close a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Navy.


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