[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2381-S2382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO CAPT DAVID M. MORRISS

   Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to CAPT David M. Morriss, Judge Advocate General's Corps, 
United States Navy. Captain Morriss will retire from the Navy on March 
11, 2005, having completed a distinguished 26-year career of service to 
our Nation.
  Captain Morriss was born in Elizabethtown, TN and is a graduate of 
the United States Naval Academy and the University of Virginia School 
of Law.

[[Page S2382]]

He also earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School.
  During his military career, Captain Morriss excelled at all facets of 
his chosen professions of law and Naval service. As a line officer, he 
served both as Fire Control Officer onboard USS Bowen, FF-1079, and as 
Supporting Arms Coordinator/Assistant Operations Officer for Amphibious 
Squadron EIGHT. He qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer before being 
accepted in the law education program.
  As a judge advocate, Captain Morriss has served in a variety of 
challenging assignments. Like many judge advocates that have come 
before and have followed him, Captain Morriss began his legal career as 
a defense counsel and legal assistance attorney at the Navy Legal 
Services Office, Charleston, SC. Later in his career, he was given the 
honor of leading young judge advocates as the commanding officer, Navy 
Legal Services Office National Capital Region.
  As Force/Fleet Judge Advocate he provided critical legal advice for 
operations in the Central Command's area of operations. His keen 
intellect and integrity led to Captain Morriss' services as the 
Assistant for Legal and Legislative matters for the Vice Chief of Naval 
Operations. This would not be the last time Captain Morriss was asked 
by the Department of the Navy for his advice and counsel on 
legislation.
  I am sure that many of my colleagues know and appreciate Captain 
Morriss' service as Director of Legislation in the Navy's Office of 
Legislative Affairs and his prior service as a Legislative Counsel in 
that same office. During these assignments, he directly contributed to 
clear and concise communication between Congress and the Departments of 
the Navy on a broad range of legislative matters. His talents, 
knowledge, and legal acumen are such that I have asked him to serve on 
the staff of the Senate Armed services Committee. The Navy's loss is 
certainly the Senate's gain, and we look forward to working with Dave 
Morriss for many years to come.
  The Nation, the United States Navy, and the Judge Advocate General's 
Corps have been made better through the talent and dedication of CAPT 
David M. Morriss. I know all of my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Dave, his wife Mary Elizabeth, and sons John, Will, and Graham, on the 
completion of an outstanding military career.

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