[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1187-E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING REAR ADMIRAL KENNETH J. BRAITHWAITE, II

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PATRICK MEEHAN

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2011

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the 
Pennsylvania delegation (Mrs. Schwartz, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Brady, Mr. 
Murphy, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Holden, Mr. Marino, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Pitts, 
Mr. Altmire, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fattah, 
Mr. Critz, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Dent, Mr. Platts), I would like the following 
statement submitted for the record. I rise today to honor Rear Admiral 
Kenneth J. Braithwaite, II.
  On June 3, 2011, at the United States Naval Academy, the U.S. Navy 
celebrated the retirement of a long standing flag officer, Rear Admiral 
Kenneth J. Braithwaite, II. Rear Admiral Braithwaite served his country 
for over 25 years. Prior to his retirement, the Navy's Vice Chief of 
Information served as the principal Navy Reserve liaison and advisor to 
the Chief of Information having responsibility for formulating 
strategic communications counsel to the leadership of the Department of 
the Navy. Concurrently, he served as the head of the Navy Reserve (NR) 
Public Affairs program and as an adjunct advisor to the Commander, Navy 
Reserve Force.
  A 1984 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Braithwaite was 
designated a naval aviator in April 1986. His first operational 
assignment was to Patrol Squadron 17, NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. He 
flew anti-submarine missions tracking adversary submarines throughout 
the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
  In April 1988, Braithwaite was selected for redesignation as a public 
affairs officer (PAO) with his initial tour aboard the aircraft carrier 
USS America (CV-66). He had additional duty as a PAO to Commander 
Carrier Group 2 and Commander, Striking Force 6th Fleet. He made both a 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Force deployment to the North 
Atlantic operating above the Arctic Circle and a Mediterranean/Indian 
Ocean cruise where the battle group responded to tensions in the 
Persian Gulf. In 1990, he was assigned to the staff of the Commander, 
Naval Base Philadelphia as chief of Public Affairs.
  Braithwaite left active duty in 1993 and immediately resumed naval 
service in the reserve where he served with numerous commands from 
Boston to Norfolk. Additionally during this time he earned a master's 
degree in Government Administration in April 1995 with honors from the 
University of Pennsylvania.
  In October 2001, Braithwaite assumed command of NR Fleet Combat 
Camera Atlantic at Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, Pa. During this 
tour the command was tasked with providing support to the Joint Task 
Force (JTF) Commander, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In March 2003 Braithwaite 
deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom with a portion of his command in 
support of naval operations to capture the port of Umm Qasr. Following 
this tour he served as commanding officer of Navy Office of Information 
New York 102.
  Most recently Braithwaite served as Commander, Joint Public Affairs 
Support Element-Reserve (JPASE-R) from October of 2004 to October 2007. 
In this role he commanded a 50-person joint public affairs 
expeditionary unit that was forward deployed to support Joint Combatant 
Commanders in time of conflict. While in command and following the 
devastating earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, Braithwaite was deployed to 
Pakistan as part

[[Page E1188]]

of the Joint Task Force for Disaster Assistance serving as the director 
of Strategic Communications working for both the JTF Commander and the 
U.S. Ambassador in Islamabad.
  His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 
oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal 
(5) with Combat ``V'', Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and 
numerous campaign and service medals. In his civilian career, 
Braithwaite is senior vice president, Hospital and Healthsystem 
Association of Pennsylvania where he leads the Delaware Valley 
Healthcare Council in Philadelphia.
  His commitment to the Navy and our Nation would not have been 
possible without the support and love of his family, especially his 
wife Melissa, his daughter, Grace and his son, Harrison.
  We commend and thank Rear Admiral Braithwaite for his relentless and 
selfless dedication to serving our country with honor and distinction.

                          ____________________