[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER SHANTI SETHI, USN

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                            HON. GENE TAYLOR

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2009

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Commander 
Shanti Sethi, United States Navy, who provided invaluable service to 
this House on national security issues for the last two years as a 
liaison officer assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs and 
who will soon be on the front lines of our Nation's defense as the 
commanding officer of a United States Navy destroyer.
  Commander Sethi is a native of Reno, Nevada but was raised in 
Connecticut, New York, Oregon, and California. Her step-father is Hall 
of Fame drag racer Conrad ``Connie'' Kalitta and she spent many of her 
formative years at the track honing her mechanical skills. She 
graduated from Norwich University in 1993 with a degree in 
International Affairs and commissioned through the NROTC program. She 
holds a Masters Degree in International Policy and Practice from The 
George Washington University.
  At sea, Commander Sethi served on USS Butte (AE 27) from March 1994 
to June of 1996 as Communications Officer and Electrical Officer, 
making a Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf deployment in support of 
Operations Deny Flight, Sharp Guard, and Southern Watch. From August of 
1996 through October of 1998, she served as the commissioning Navigator 
onboard USS Hopper (DDG 70). During this tour she supported a Panama 
Canal transit, accelerated test and trials, and a Middle East Force 
deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch commencing within one 
year of the ship's commissioning. She served as the Weapons Officer and 
Combat Systems Officer on USS Higgins (DDG 76) from March of 2001 until 
May of 2003. Onboard USS Higgins, she completed an Arabian Gulf 
deployment for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom including 
missile defense tracking and cruise missile operations. She 
subsequently participated in the first test of crew exchange on 
destroyers serving as Combat Systems officer on USS Benfold (DDG 65) 
until her transfer in November of 2003. Commander Sethi was selected 
for early sea command and assumed command of MHC crew BOLD in April 
2006 while embarked in USS Blackhawk (MHC 58). During her command she 
was responsible for training Greek naval officers in the operation of 
MHC vessels prior to foreign military exchange. She subsequently 
assumed command of MHC crew Detector embarked on USS Kingfisher (MHC 
56) where her ship provided valuable services to pre-deployment workups 
for Navy carrier strike groups.
  Her shore assignments include serving as the Executive Assistant to 
the Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, 
Resource Officer for Shipboard Protection Systems and Shipboard Radar 
Systems on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations where she was 
instrumental in the rapid fielding of systems to protect warships from 
small boat and unconventional attacks, and her current assignment as 
the surface warfare liaison officer assigned to the Navy Office of 
Legislative Affairs.
  In her current assignment Commander Sethi's responsibilities included 
primary liaison for surface combatant construction, surface ship combat 
and weapons systems, ballistic missile defense, and a myriad of other 
logistical and operational issues affecting the surface fleet. CDR 
Sethi provided invaluable support to me, the Committee on Armed 
Services, and the various Members and personal staff of the 
subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. She displayed a 
unique ability to explain complex military requirements against the 
backdrop of uncertain future threats. In this she served this committee 
well and reflected great credit upon herself and the United States 
Navy.
  Madam Speaker, I have the great honor to inform the House that 
Commander Sethi has been selected to assume command of the Arleigh 
Burke class destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73). When she does so, she will 
be only the 15th female officer to command a capital ship of the line. 
For myself and the other Members of the subcommittee we wish Commander 
Sethi fair winds, following seas, and Godspeed as she leads her crew in 
the protection of our nation.

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