[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RETIREMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL GORDON S. HOLDER, UNITED STATES NAVY

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a 
great patriot, sailor and fellow Floridian, VADM Gordon S. Holder. Vice 
Admiral Holder is retiring after a distinguished 36-year career in the 
United States Navy.
  Gordon Holder entered naval service in 1968 after graduating from 
Florida State, University in Tallahassee and completion of the Officer 
Candidate School in Newport RI. Since then he as served with 
distinction in peace and war in a variety of command and staff 
positions on shore and at sea.
  Vice Admiral Holder's illustrious career includes sea duty on the USS 
William C. Lawe (DD 763) as First Lieutenant and Combat Information 
Center Officer, USS Brumby (DE 1044) as Operations Officer, USS Boulder 
(LST 1190) as Chief Engineer, and USS Hermitage (LSD 34) as Executive 
Officer. His first command at sea was USS Inflict (MSO 456), with 
subsequent commanding officer afloat tours in USS Whidbey Island (LSD 
41) and USS Austin (LPD 4). He has also served staff tours with 
Commander Seventh Fleet and Commander Naval Forces, U.S. Central 
Command as Fleet Exercises and Amphibious Warfare Officer, and with 
Amphibious Group Two as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and 
Plans.
  Shore tours include Aide to the Commandant Sixth Naval District and 
Commander Naval Base Charleston, Company Officer and Special Assistant 
to the Commandant, U.S. Naval Academy, and Assistant Surface Commander 
Assignments Officer, Naval Military Personnel Command. In 1980, Vice 
Admiral Holder graduated with distinction from the Air Command and 
Staff College at Air University, Montgomery, AL.
  Vice Admiral Holder was selected for promotion to flag rank in 
December 1993 and has served as Commander Naval Surface Group Middle 
Pacific and Commander Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Commander Naval Doctrine 
Command, Commander Amphibious Group Two, and Commander, Military 
Sealift Command.
  Vice Admiral Holder assumed his current duties as Director for 
Logistics on the Joint Staff on September 4, 2001 just one week prior 
to the fateful attacks on U.S. soil. In this capacity he has worked 
tirelessly and with great success to plan, organize and direct the 
massive logistics effort of the nation in support of our Armed Forces 
in the global war on terrorism, including successful combat operations 
in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time, he has been instrumental in 
guiding the transformation of military logistics to a true 21st century 
structure that links industry, supply, transportation, maintenance and 
management systems capable of supporting our forces around the globe. 
Vice Admiral Holder has had direct and far-reaching influence on 
numerous policies, programs and operations that support our soldiers, 
sailors, airmen and marines, including, most notably the rotation of 
forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the largest movement of American 
forces since World War II.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Vice Admiral Holder for 
the leadership he has provided, for the care and concern he has 
demonstrated for our service members and their families and for his 
dedicated and honorable service to our Nation and Navy. As he turns to 
retired life, we wish him, his wife Pat and family Godspeed and all the 
best in the future.

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