[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1400-E1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DONALD MATTEO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 1996

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Mr. 
Donald Matteo, the executive director of the submarine directorate of 
the Naval Sea Systems Command. On the occasion of his retirement, I ask 
that you and the other Members of this distinguished body, join me to 
pay special tribute to his extraordinary achievements in the service of 
our great Nation.
  Don Matteo manages our Nation's most critical strategic, tactical, 
and special purpose

[[Page E1401]]

programs--the design, acquisition, maintenance, and modernization of 
the Navy's attack and strategic submarines and deep submergence 
systems. His contributions to the Navy span a civil service career of 
over 36 years, 15 of which have been as a member of the Senior 
Executive Service.
  Don Matteo has been honored with numerous impressive awards. He is 
the recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Executive Award, and 
has been honored on many occasions with the Presidential Meritorious 
Rank Award, the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, and the Navy 
Special Act or Service Award.
  A native of Brooklyn, NY, Don is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant 
Marine Academy. He began his civil service career as a marine engineer 
at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. During the course of his distinguished 
career, Don Served as the program manager for acquisition of the SSBN-
726 class trident submarines, and as the program manager for 
acquisition of SSN-688 Los Angeles class attack submarines. Don 
Matteo's leadership has been central to the tremendous success of our 
Nation's strategic and fast attack submarines. His expertise and 
innovative approaches to both management and technical issues continue 
to manifest themselves in the cost effectiveness and quality of Navy 
programs and products.

  Don Matteo provided a major contribution to the successful 
termination of cold war hostilities. He worked closely in negotiations 
with numerous government agencies, and in collaborative operations with 
representatives at the highest levels of international navies and the 
defense communities. His cooperation with our allies, including the 
British, Australian, and Egyptian navies, set the tone for an emerging 
new era of peace. His vision and personal efforts to maximize the 
submarine strategic deterrence mission helped facilitate the Strategic 
Arms Reduction Talks [START] and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks 
[SALT] Accords.
  Don Matteo epitomizes the best of a modern executive. The high regard 
in which he is held throughout the Defense establishment and in private 
industry marks Don as one of our most effective and respected Navy 
civilian leaders. He is known throughout the Department of Defense for 
his technical expertise and insightful leadership. He has inspired and 
mentored many executives, and is a highly respected role model for many 
young managers. Don has led the way in achieving the goals of the 
President's National Performance Review. He was on the forefront of 
Navy initiatives to rightsize the submarine community to meet changing 
national strategic goals, while minimizing adverse effects.

  Mr. Speaker, during the course of his career, Don Matteo has faced 
tremendous engineering, technical, and fiscal challenges. His 
leadership and personal fortitude have been central to the operational 
effectiveness and reliability of all submarines, and to our national 
security strategy which they enable and support. The recent highly 
successful maiden voyage of the PCU Seawolf, the first of a new class 
of attack submarines to set sail in over 20 years, is but one example 
of the results of the tremendous leadership of Don Matteo. Although he 
will be sorely missed in the Department of Defense, Don Matteo's 
vision, leadership, and personal style will continue to have a great 
impact in our Navy, and on our Nation for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues and the citizens of this 
great country, I am proud to have the opportunity to honor Mr. Donald 
Matteo on this momentous occasion with Bravo Zulu for a job well done. 
I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me to wish Mr. 
Matteo ``Fair Winds and Following Seas'' as he begins his next voyage.

                          ____________________