[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8663-S8664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO VICE ADMIRAL NORBERT ROBERT RYAN, JR.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Vice Admiral Norbert 
Robert Ryan, Jr., United States Navy, who will retire on Sunday, 
December 1, 2002, after 35-years of faithful service to our Nation.
  Hailing from Mountainhome, PA, Vice Admiral Ryan graduated from the 
U.S. Naval Academy in 1967. Following graduation he attended flight 
training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1968. After completing 
additional technical training, he spent three years with Patrol 
Squadron EIGHT conducting antisubmarine warfare patrols during the 
height of the Cold War.
  Returning to the Naval Academy from 1972 to 1975, Vice Admiral Ryan 
helped shape future Navy leaders while serving as a Company Officer and 
Midshipman Personnel Officer. While at the Academy he concurrently 
attended graduate school, earning a Master of Science degree in 
Personnel Administration from George Washington University.
  In 1975, Vice Admiral Ryan returned to the fleet, commencing a period 
of nine straight years of sea-duty assignments in which he served on a 
Carrier Group Commander's staff and flew P-3 Orion aircraft in three 
different Patrol Squadrons, including service as the Commanding Officer 
of Patrol Squadron FIVE. From 1984 to 1986, he was assigned as the 
Operations Officer on the staff of Commander, Patrol Wing ELEVEN and 
then as Force Operations Officer for Commander, Patrol Wings, Atlantic.
  After serving two years as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief 
of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Ryan completed studies at the John F. 
Kennedy School of Government, Senior Officer National Security Program, 
enroute to command of Patrol Wing TWO.
  From 1991 to 1993, Vice Admiral Ryan served as Executive Assistant to 
the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the period of 1993-
1995, he was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, first as 
Director for Total Force Programming and then as Director for 
Distribution.
  Vice Admiral Ryan returned to the fleet as Commander Patrol Wings 
Pacific/Commander Task Force 12 and then to the Pentagon where he 
performed superbly as the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs, serving 
in that important post from 1996 to 1999.
  In November 1999, Vice Admiral Ryan assumed duties as Chief of Naval 
Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Manpower and Personnel. In 
this position, he distinguished himself through exceptionally 
meritorious service as he expertly developed and executed a visionary 
Navy personnel strategy, dynamic assignment system placement 
improvements, intelligent manpower allocations and many carefully 
crafted quality of life initiatives. His relentless efforts directly 
provided an unprecedented level of personnel readiness throughout the 
Navy.
  A leader by example, Vice Admiral Ryan fostered creative concepts for 
taking care of people by applying focused mentoring and one-on-one 
leadership with the individual Sailor foremost in mind. He was the 
driving force that positioned the Navy's human resource organization 
for optimum support of the Service's needs. A true visionary, he 
supported manpower reform, new Fleet personnel requirements, and 
innovation in personnel management and manpower preparation for new 
operational platforms and weapons systems.
  During his tenure as Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Admiral Ryan 
oversaw unprecedented success in quality of life enhancements for all 
Navy men and

[[Page S8664]]

women and their families. These enhancements included the establishment 
and improvement of cost-efficient and extremely effective recruiting 
and reenlistment incentives, implementation of the Thrift Savings Plan, 
expansion of life insurance benefits to active duty family members and 
improvements to the process by which Sailors receive housing 
allowances. His actions maintained sensitivity to Fleet requirements 
while being ever mindful of our most vital asset - the Sailor.
  Vice Admiral Ryan's leadership, intelligent stewardship and 
exceptional commitment to all naval personnel stand to ensure the 
success of our Navy well into the 21st Century. He is an individual of 
uncommon character and his professionalism will be sincerely missed. I 
ask my colleagues on both side of the aisle to rise with me to thank 
Vice Admiral Norb Ryan for his honorable service in the United States 
Navy, and to wish him and his family fair winds and following seas as 
he closes his distinguished military career. We also wish Norb Ryan and 
his wife, Judy, success, happiness, and good health as he takes the 
helm as President of The Retired Officer's Association.

                          ____________________