[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 70 (Monday, May 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO REAR ADMIRAL WILLIAM W. COBB, JR., U.S. NAVY

 Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to recognize one of the 
finest officers in the United States Navy, RADM William ``Bill'' Cobb, 
on the occasion of his retirement on May 15, 2003. Admiral Cobb will 
leave his current job as Program Executive Officers Ships after over 37 
years of faithful and dedicated service to the Navy and our great 
Nation. During his time in Washington, he engaged the Congress on 
numerous issues vital to our national security. Today, it is my 
pleasure to recognize some of Bill's many accomplishments and commend 
him and his family for their service to the Navy and our Nation.
  Admiral Cobb entered military service in 1968 after receiving a 
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Naval 
Academy. He continued his education at the Naval Post Graduate School 
where he earned a Master's Degree in Operations Research in 1975. 
Admiral Cobb also attended the National Defense University's Industrial 
College of the Armed Forces, ICAF, in 1990; the Defense Systems 
Management College in 1992; the Executive Program, University of 
Michigan, Graduate Business School in 1994; and the Senior Executive 
Program in National and International Security at Harvard University in 
2001.
  As Executive Officer aboard USS Jouett, CG 29, Admiral Cobb shined as 
a leader. Even though Jouett started out last in every competitive 
category, Admiral Cobb's ability to motivate all levels of the chain-
of-command catapulted the ship to the fleet's number one combatant in 
battle readiness. He later assumed duties as Commanding Office of USS 
Coontz, DDG 37, where his ship provided the initial response to a 
distress call after USS Stark was struck by an errant Iraqi cruise 
missile. During his tour as Commander of Naval Surface Warfare Center, 
Indian Head, Naval Ordnance Command, and Commander Naval Surface 
Warfare Center, NSWC, he was responsible for all of the Navy's In-
Service Engineering Agents, ISEA.
  Admiral Cobb also excelled in a variety of key staff assignments 
including Chief of Staff and Head, Fleet Introduction and Lifetime 
Support Division, AEGIS Program Office; a tour in the Office of the 
Chief of Naval Operations as Head Readiness Sustainability Team, OP 
09O; and Chief, Cruise Missile Division, Plans and Policy Directorate, 
Commander Atlantic Fleet, where he planned all of the Tomahawk strikes 
for Desert Storm. As Program Executive Officer for Theater Surface 
Combatants, PEO TSC, he was responsible for the AEGIS shipbuilding 
program, the Navy's Theater Ballistic Missile Defense, TBMD, program, 
and introduction of the Cooperative Engagement Capability, CEC. On the 
international front, he headed shipbuilding programs with Spain and 
Japan, and worked with thirteen of our closest allies on the Standard 
Missile program. His tremendous effort significantly enhanced our 
allied forces' defenses against the growing tactical ballistic missile 
threat. Admiral Cobb was also responsible for the life-cycle support of 
several ship classes including Ticonderoga Cruisers, Arleigh Burke 
Guided Missile Destroyers, Spruance Destroyers and Oliver Hazard Perry 
Frigates.
  In conjunction with the Secretary of the Navy's reorganization 
efforts, Admiral Cobb took on the significant task of reorganizing 
three major Program Offices into one. Program Executive Officer, PEO, 
Ships now has sole responsibility for life-cycle support for all 13 
surface ship classes, the heart of our entire Navy. This new Program 
Office is responsible for the execution of current and future 
shipbuilding programs that will carry the Navy well into the 21st 
century including the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers, the LPD 17 
San Antonio Class Amphibious Ships, the Navy's future destroyer DD(X), 
X, and the Littoral Combat Ship, LCS. The DD(X), and LCS programs, due 
in large part to Admiral Cobb's leadership, will revolutionize our Navy 
with the availability of more lethal and agile firepower than ever 
before seen in history.
  Always an inspiration to those who served him, Admiral Cobb made it a 
point to recognize those Officers and Sailors who transformed his 
vision of the Navy into reality. His contribution to the success of our 
Navy goes well beyond the material changes he made in the programmatic 
world. Admiral Cobb made each sailor keenly aware of their importance 
to the Navy and the true appreciation that he held for their efforts. 
His unique ability to recognize talent and to foster camaraderie among 
those who served him had an enormous influence on countless junior 
sailors, and will continue to steer the course of our Navy well into 
the future.
  On behalf of my esteemed colleagues, I offer the sincere 
congratulations of the United States Senate to Admiral Cobb, his wife 
Karen, son Bill II, Buddy, daughter Jeanne, and granddaughter Isabelle 
on a truly magnificent career. Admiral Cobb will be missed by our Navy 
and has the heartfelt appreciation of our entire Nation. We wish our 
friend the best of luck in his undoubtedly successful future and bid 
him ``Fair Winds and Following Seas.''
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

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