[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMMANDER MARK DICKINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHELE BACHMANN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2009

  Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant 
Commander Mark Dickinson, a Minnesota native with St. Cloud and Big 
Lake roots, upon his retirement from the United States Navy. After 20 
years of service, Mark is retiring from military service but will 
continue to serve his country as a civilian working for the Navy. I am 
proud to share Mark's distinguished career with this Congress today.
  In 1989, Mark enlisted in the Navy and worked his way up to Petty 
Officer First Class serving on the USS Kamehameha, USS Nebraska and PCU 
Louisiana. As a commissioned officer, Mark served as Supply Department 
Head on the USS Maryland, which, under his leadership, won the Supply 
Blue ``E'' awarded to the finest supply department in the squadron and 
the prestigious Edward F. Ney Award for outstanding food service- 
something every sailor can appreciate!
  Mark began work at Naval Reactors as Manager of Shipbuilding 
Contracts in 2003. In this role, he successfully oversaw the 
construction, repair and modification of nuclear powered ships and also 
helped negotiate the acquisition of private shipyard facility upgrades 
necessary to refueling and defueling operations of nuclear aircraft 
carriers. Mark's negotiation and implementation of cost incentive 
programs has set the Navy up to save more than $850 million dollars. 
Since 2007, Mark has been the Deputy Director of Acquisition and this 
March he assumed his current responsibilities as Director of 
Acquisition at Naval Reactors where he continues to lead shipbuilding 
efforts.
  It is with great honor that I congratulate LCDR Mark Dickinson on 20 
years of dedicated service to the United States Navy. Madame Speaker, I 
rise so that this Congress may also pay tribute to Mark and wish him 
and his family all the best in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________