[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING CAPTAIN SILVESTER R. DEL ROSARIO, THE HIGHEST RANKING 
              DOMINICAN AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2008

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Silvester R. Del 
Rosario for becoming the first Hispanic Aviation Limited Duty Officer 
in the United States Navy to achieve the rank of Captain. This 
promotion makes Mr. Del Rosario the highest ranking Dominican American 
in the United States Navy.
  Captain Del Rosario was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican 
Republic. He moved to Queens, New York at the age of 17 and enlisted in 
the U.S. Navy in 1976. After basic training, he was rapidly promoted 
from ``striker'' to Aviation Structural Mechanic Chief Petty Officer. 
His first assignment was to Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland where 
he trained in structures, hydraulic, and flight control systems. Mr. 
Del Rosario was subsequently moved to the prestigious Navy Flight 
Demonstration Squadron ``Blue Angels'' Naval Air Station in Pensacola, 
Florida.
  In 1990, Captain Del Rosario was selected to serve as Officer-in-
Charge for the VP-45 Detachment at Cecil Field, Florida where he earned 
distinction when he was honored as ``1990 Maintenance Officer of the 
Year'' by the Association of Naval Aviation. Over the course of two 
tours to the Mediterranean and North Arabian Gulf, he was awarded the 
``LTJG Clint Neidecken'' award for leadership, selected by Strike 
Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the ``1993 Maintenance Officer of 
the Year'' and honored as the 1994 COMNAVAIRLANT ``Capt. Charles J. 
Nechvatal Aviation Maintenance Officer of the Year''. Under Captain Del 
Rosario's management, the Naval Air Maintenance Training Unit Norfolk 
won the 2002 Bronze Hammer Award, the 2002 NETC Training Excellence 
Award, and the 2002 NETC Retention Award. In 2003, his command was 
recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally 
accredited institution.
  Over his long career Captain Del Rosario has won many awards, 
including four Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy Commendation 
Medals, four Navy Achievement Medals, three Navy Good Conduct Medals, 
Navy Rifle and Pistol Expert Medals, and various service campaign and 
unit decorations. In light of his considerable achievement, it is 
fitting that Mr. Del Rosario was promoted to the rank of Captain on 
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008. Captain Del Rosario is an exceptional role-
model for young Americans considering a career in the United States 
Armed Forces. I congratulate him on this achievement and wish him the 
best of luck in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________