[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 106 (Thursday, July 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1502-E1503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO REAR ADMIRAL STEPHEN R. PIETROPAOLI, U.S. NAVY, NAVY CHIEF 
                             OF INFORMATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
service to our Nation of Rear Admiral Stephen R. Pietropaoli, the 
Navy's Chief of Information, who will retire later this year. Rear 
Admiral Pietropaoli's career has worn the cloth of the Nation for over 
26 years, during which time he has distinguished himself as a sailor, a 
leader, and a trusted advisor to many senior Navy and DOD senior 
military and civilian officials.
  Throughout his career, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli has excelled in 
numerous positions of great responsibility. Whether he was ``driving 
ships'' as a surface warfare officer; guiding and leading midshipmen as 
a teacher at the Naval ROTC program at the University of Pennsylvania; 
responding to media queries as the lead spokesman at the Navy's 
National News Desk; or providing thoughtful and wise public affairs 
advice and counsel as the public affairs officer to the Chairmen of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of the Navy, Rear Admiral 
Pietropaoli has always been widely recognized as the most trusted and 
respected military officer, national security expert and public affairs 
professional.
  It was during his tour of duty at the Joint Chiefs of Staff where his 
stellar reputation was further solidified. Rear Admiral Pietropaoli 
served as the sole communications strategist and public affairs advisor 
for two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during operations in 
Bosnia and Kosovo. While working for Generals Shalikashvili and 
Shelton, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli developed messages for countless 
media briefings, congressional appearances and international trips. 
During this time, the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
and the military services used these messages to work successfully with 
the Congress to provide the largest pay raise in 20 years and to 
restore retirement benefits for service members that serve 20 years in 
the military.
  In his final assignment as the Navy's Chief of Information, Rear 
Admiral Pietropaoli led a global team of 500 active duty, reserve and 
civilian public professionals. His personal leadership and actions gave 
the American public an extraordinary understanding of the sacrifices 
and contributions of our Sailors and Marines, and the capabilities of 
U.S. Naval forces in times of peace and war. His vision, leadership and 
dedication have raised the Department of the Navy's numerous worldwide 
public affairs operations to unprecedented levels of success. Without 
question, no other leader in the U.S. Navy had a greater impact on 
garnering departmental, congressional, and public support for key Navy 
issues and programs than Rear Admiral Pietropaoli.

[[Page E1503]]

  Whether coordinating Navy Public Affairs efforts following the 
attacks of September 11th, communicating the Navy's role in Operation 
ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and the Philippines and Operation IRAQI 
FREEDOM, or discussing Navy's support for homeland defense and 
Operation NOBLE EAGLE, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli orchestrated 
unprecedented media access to naval information and operations giving 
American and international audiences a clear picture of the readiness, 
dedication and contributions our Sailors made to national security.

  During his tenure as CHINFO, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli also 
demonstrated unparalleled expertise in all facets of Navy Public 
Affairs community management; active duty and reserve, officer, 
enlisted, and civilian alike. His knowledge of public affairs 
requirements across the spectrum of military operations, combined with 
his keen sense of an individual's strengths, ensured the right person 
was sent to the right job at the right time. Joint commanders 
augmenting their public affairs staffs during military operations 
routinely sought Rear Admiral Pietropaoli's well trained public affairs 
specialists. He has led the consolidation effort over various enlisted 
ratings into the public affairs family of ratings, ensuring better 
career management for all those who work in the public affairs arena. 
He has also championed efforts by the Secretary of the Navy to study 
and implement a civilian community management plan, becoming the 
sponsor for those in the public affairs and related series.
  There is no question that Rear Admiral Pietropaoli is the top 
communications professional in the U.S. military today. His 
unparalleled leadership and zeal for excellence will have a positive 
impact on the Navy Public Affairs Community for decades. He will be 
missed.
  In a Navy where many people come and go, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli is 
a symbol of commitment and dedication from which many of us could 
learn. I congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his 
nearly three decades of honorable service to the Navy and country.
  On behalf of the U.S. Congress, I offer my congratulations to Rear 
Admiral Pietropaoli and wish him the best of luck as he and his wife, 
Dawn, and their two sons, Daniel and Matthew, begin this new and 
exciting chapter of their lives. Fair winds and following seas!

                          ____________________