[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING JAMES A. ``BUDDY'' CONNER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2004

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James A. ``Buddy'' 
Conner, who has contributed some 45 years of service to the defense of 
our Nation as a leader, a worker, and a soldier.
  Mr. Conner is retiring from a 43-year career with BWX Technologies, 
where he rose from his first assignment as an associate engineer and 
technician to become one of the company's four highest-ranking 
executives.
  Mr. Conner was born in Appomattox, Virginia, and after finishing his 
primary education, devoted two years of service to the United States 
Marine Corps.
  Upon his arrival back home, Mr. Conner took a short trip west to the 
town of Lynchburg and began working at the recently built Nuclear 
Facilities Plant while he earned his business degree from Lynchburg 
College. He would spend the next 40 years at that site, eventually 
leading the Naval Nuclear Fuel Division, which supplies the United 
States Navy with all of its nuclear fuel. During his tenure, in 2000, 
Mr. Conner joined the BWXT team vying for the operations contract for 
the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. For Buddy, 
this was a chance to lead a facility that is still as monumentally 
important in our nation's defense as it was during one of our country's 
biggest security successes, the Manhattan Project.
  BWXT won the contract, and Mr. Conner has spent the last three years 
helping to ensure the site will continue to be the unique jewel in 
America's first line of nuclear defense. When America has called on 
Buddy and Y-12 to provide stewardship and security to a safe and 
reliable stockpile of nuclear weapon components and materials, they 
have stood at the ready.
  Since taking the helm of the operating contract for the site, Buddy 
and his management team have lead Y-12 into an exciting new era. From 
modernization plans that are transforming our country's Fort Knox of 
highly enriched uranium into an efficient storage and production 
facility, to the renewal of the worker's spirit and enthusiasm through 
aggressive recruitment and mentoring programs that are bringing in the 
future of Y-12--Buddy and company have set Y-12 on a fantastic course.
  Mr. Conner rose through the ranks of one of our premier defense 
contractors because of his intelligence, dedication, and outstanding 
work ethic. In short: he is the real deal.
  Mr. Conner's 45 years of devotion to our Nation's security are not to 
be forgotten. That is why today I am proud to recognize Mr. Conner's 
efforts for his years of service to the defense of our country.

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