[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER LORENZO ``PETE'' CASALEGNO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 30, 2010

  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication, 
public service and patriotism of U.S. Navy Commander ``Pete'' Casalegno 
for 30 years of distinguished service to our nation, both with the U.S. 
Navy and the U.S. Air Force.
  Commander Casalegno's military service began in 1965 when he enlisted 
in the Air Force and served as a weather observer and forecaster. A 
veteran of the Vietnam War, he served as a member of the combat weather 
team at Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam, from December 1967 to December 1968.
  Upon graduation from the University of San Francisco, Commander 
Casalegno was commissioned and subsequently designated as a naval 
flight officer. After completion of advanced training in the E-2 
Hawkeye aircraft, Commander Casalegno was assigned to Carrier Airborne 
Early Warning Squadron 114 and completed two overseas deployments 
onboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). 
During this assignment, Commander Casalegno completed arduous 
qualifications as Officer of the Deck and Tactical Action Officer.
  After graduating from the United States Postgraduate School in 1981 
with a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, Commander Casalegno 
was assigned to the staff of the Cruiser Destroyer Group Three as 
Assistant Air Operations and Electronic Warfare Officer. Involved in 
frequent deployments to both the Western Pacific and Southwest Asia, 
Commander Casalegno participated in military operations following the 
fall of the Shah of Iran and numerous humanitarian operations.
  In 1985, Commander Casalegno reported to Carrier Airborne Early 
Warning Squadron 116 where he served as Operations Officer and 
Maintenance Officer during deployments to the Western Pacific and 
Southwest Asia. Commander Casalegno was involved in operations which 
included escorting U.S. merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz 
and retributive strikes on Iranian oil facilities.
  Following the tour, Commander Casalegno was assigned to the staff of 
Commander Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. As a staff 
officer, he was involved in numerous North American Treaty Organization 
operations, including support of allied forces during Operations Desert 
Shield and Desert Storm.
  In 1990, Commander Casalegno was assigned as the United States Navy 
Exchange Officer to the Royal Navy's Maritime Tactical School in 
Portsmouth, England, where he trained senior allied officials in the 
employment of naval forces. In 1994, Commander Casalegno returned to 
the United States to serve at the Navy's Tactical Training Group, 
Atlantic Fleet, as the air defense instructor.
  Commander Casalegno, his wife Marla, his daughter Julie, and his sons 
Cory and Phillip are stalwart Americans who have made enormous 
sacrifices over the last 30 years. Commander Casalegno has honorably 
and faithfully upheld the nation's special trust and confidence 
conveyed through his military commission. In every way, he has upheld 
his oath of office with true faith and allegiance. It is with the 
greatest sense of respect and appreciation that I stand today in 
recognition of Commander Casalegno and, along with the rest of my 
colleagues, wish him all the best in his retirement.

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