[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E235-E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TO HONOR THE SERVICE OF RICHARD `DICK' HEALING, NAVY DIRECTOR OF SAFETY 
                           AND SURVIVABILITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today, a valued asset of the 
Navy and a dear friend of mine will retire after a long and 
distinguished career in public service. Richard `Dick' Healing 
selflessly served as the Navy's first Director of Safety and 
Survivability. His objective was the operational safety of our 
servicemen and women in combat and training. Whenever the well-being of 
the individuals who would operate the various aircraft, weapons and 
machinery was ignored or overlooked, Dick Healing made it a priority so 
that no design created unreasonable risks.
  Dick's contribution affected the lives of all Navy personnel. He took 
pride in closely overseeing the assessment and procurement of countless 
technology improvements. He is most well-known for aviation safety 
including, but not limited to, the addition of the life-saving 
Helicopter Emergency Egress Device (HEED) and the use of flight 
recorders on combat aircraft. Thanks to his tireless efforts, countless 
Navy personnel and their families would never have to experience the 
loss of a loved one due to hasty or imprudent engineering.
  Dick's services to America did not begin with his life-saving Navy 
survivability work. After dedicating 29 years of his life to the Coast 
Guard, Captain Healing held four Navy commands, including the Command 
of a patrol gunboat during the Vietnam War and Command of the Secretary 
of Defense Crisis Coordination Center Reserve Unit. He served as Team 
Chief in this unit during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and is the 
recipient of 26 medals and awards including the Defense Superior 
Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.
  As a licensed Professional Engineer and a graduate from the Naval War 
College, he was selected to be a Presidential Exchange Executive in 
1990 and was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard University in 1991. 
After acting as President and CEO of a Connecticut contracting and 
engineering firm and as Executive Vice President of a military parts 
manufacturer, Dick Healing has been with the Secretary of Navy since 
1983. A family man and a man of great character, Richard Healing takes 
great pride in his wife Darlene and their three grown children.
  My friend's tireless dedication to improving the safety of our Navy 
will be missed. It has

[[Page E236]]

been an honor to work with him in pursuit of this noble goal. America's 
armed forces and I applaud his service. A grateful nation wishes him 
and his family the very best.

                          ____________________