[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 TRIBUTE TO COMMANDANT CHARLES BALDWIN

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, this spring, the fourth class will 
graduate from the Delaware Military Academy, and I would like to take 
this opportunity to recognize Commandant Charles W. Baldwin for his 
years of dedicated service to the school.
  The Delaware Military Academy, DMA, is a unique public charter school 
affiliated with the Red Clay School District. Cofounded in 2003 by 
Commandant Baldwin and opened that year with only grades 9 and 10, the 
DMA has quickly found success.
  Today, in addition to being a Middle States fully accredited school, 
the academy has grown to enroll 525 students in grades 9 though 12 and 
has a waiting list of more than 200 applicants. Since 2006, DMA has 
earned a superior rating every year from the Delaware Department of 
Education. In 2008, the school was named a Superstars in Education 
Award Winner by the Delaware Chamber of Commerce.
  Designated by the United States Navy as a Distinguished Unit with 
Academic Honors, the academy has the unique privilege and 
responsibility of naming nine nominations among the Naval Academy, Air 
Force Academy and West Point Military Academy.
  The unique school offers students a tuition-free, 4-year high school 
program. The entire school is incorporated within the Navy Junior 
Reserve Officer Training Corps, and as the first school of this nature, 
has become the model high school for this Navy Training Corps.
  The Delaware Military Academy's college preparatory academic 
curriculum is supplemented with courses that include naval operations, 
navigation, leadership, seamanship and oceanography. With its cadet 
hierarchy, students are placed in leadership positions and given 
responsibilities rarely found in a civilian high school. As a result, 
they emerge from the academy better prepared to meet the demanding 
challenges of the adult world.
  In just 6 short years, the academy, under the leadership of 
Commandant Baldwin, has done what takes some schools more than 20 years 
to accomplish. It has built and maintained a successful system that 
instills values and responsibility into our children while providing 
them an excellent education. Moreover, the commitment of DMA and its 
student body to community service is widely known and appreciated in 
the State of Delaware.
  While success in such a short period is certainly a credit to the 
faculty and students of the academy, Commandant Baldwin has indeed 
played a critical leading role.
  A 24-year Navy veteran himself, Commandant Baldwin has dedicated his 
life to training, teaching and recruiting, including a tour of duty as 
principal of the George V. Kirk Middle School in Delaware's Christiana 
School District. Before cofounding the Delaware Military Academy, 
Commandant Baldwin established NJROTC programs in Delaware's Seaford 
and Christiana School Districts. During this time, he has received both 
military and civilian awards for excellence, including the Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Christiana 
Teacher of the Year and the Christiana School District Citizenship 
Award. In addition, he twice received Presidential awards for 
management excellence.
  On a personal note, I have known and admired Commandant Baldwin for 
more than a decade. My sincere hope is that as he steps down from his 
leadership role at the Delaware Military Academy, he will consider 
leading an effort to establish other public charter schools in the 
state that are based on the DMA's unique model.
  I want to personally thank Commandant Baldwin for his commitment to 
Delaware, to the education of its young people, and to preparing them 
for lives of service. I warmly wish him the best.

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