[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF ADMIRAL JAMES WATKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and his 
significant contributions to building the smart, proud, and effective 
Navy and Marine Corps that so ably serve our Nation today. On April 20, 
Admiral James D. Watkins is being inducted in the Naval Postgraduate 
School Hall of Fame and, the following day, the Mechanical Engineering 
building on campus will be renamed ``Watkins Hall''. Admiral Watkins 
graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1958 with a Master's 
Degree in Mechanical Engineering. That experience, perhaps more than 
any other, helped Admiral Watkins develop his second career as one of 
our Nation's preeminent science and technology policy statesmen.
  Admiral Watkins graduated with the Class of 1949 from the U.S. Naval 
Academy. He retired from the Navy in 1987 after serving five years as 
the Chief of Naval Operations, the most senior military command within 
the United States Navy. In between, he built a naval career at sea and 
on shore that is the model for service to this Nation and for every 
officer who followed.
  After retiring from the Navy Admiral Watkins began this second career 
when President Reagan asked him to chair the Presidential Commission on 
AIDS. In 1989, President George H. Bush appointed him Secretary of 
Energy. As Secretary, Admiral Watkins helped shape the 1992 Energy 
Policy Act through Congress. In 1994, Admiral Watkins built on the NPS 
tradition of collaborative education when he spearheaded the formation 
of CORE, the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education. This 
public--private association is a partnership between the federal 
government and more than 80 marine research and education institutions. 
CORE developed a comprehensive national ocean science and technology 
research agenda. In 1996, I proudly joined my congressional colleagues 
in passing the National Oceanographic Partnership Act, legislation that 
grew directly out of Admiral Watkins' leadership at CORE.
  In 2001, Admiral Watkins left CORE's helm to chair the U.S. 
Commission on Ocean Policy. In 2004, the Commission delivered its 
landmark report to Congress and the President that recommended major 
reforms to U.S. ocean policy. Admiral Watkins' leadership infused the 
report and, as so often happened before, served as the catalyst for 
congressional action. I am pleased to be the sponsor of Oceans-21 that 
will implement many of the Commission's key recommendations.
  While no one act can recognize all that Admiral Watkins has done for 
our Nation's military and environmental security, the dedication of 
Watkins Hall at the Naval Postgraduate School is a fitting tribute to 
one of our Nation's most distinguished Naval officers.

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