[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E746-E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION AND SERVICE OF CHAPLAIN DAVID L. GIBSON OF 
                           NORTHWEST FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2013

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the 
dedication and service of Chaplain David L. Gibson upon the occasion of 
his retirement. Chaplain Gibson is a proud resident of the Gulf Coast, 
where he is retiring after serving his nation with honor and 
distinction as Command Chaplain and Protestant Chapel Pastor at Naval 
Air Station Pensacola.
   Chaplain Gibson was born in Mableton, Georgia, and began serving his 
community at an early age through religious education. He acted as a 
minster of Youth, Music, and Christian Education at numerous churches, 
first as an intern and ultimately as director of a tri-city area based 
in Midland, Michigan. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in 
Christian Education in 1980 and his Masters in Divinity in 1983, 
Chaplain Gibson was ordained in July 1984 and commissioned as an 
officer in the United States Navy.
   Chaplain Gibson led his military communities spiritually in posts as 
Chaplain or Command Chaplain in Naples, Italy; Norfolk, Virginia; 
Yorktown, Virginia; and Beaufort, South Carolina; before arriving in 
Pensacola to serve in 1998. While assigned to Naval Air Station 
Pensacola as the Assistant Department Head of the Naval Education and 
Training Professional Development Command, he designed and delivered 
over two hundred professional development courses. For his dedication 
and exceptional service, Chaplain Gibson was awarded the Navy-Marine 
Corps Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Following 
his promotion to Commander in 2003, Chaplain Gibson moved to serve at 
the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, Rhode Island for three years 
before returning to Naval Air Station Pensacola. In a further testament 
to his devotion to education, he earned his Doctorate of Strategic 
Leadership from Regent University in 2006.
   During his career, Chaplain Gibson founded the Applied Suicide 
Intervention Skills Training Program. Today, this program is the 
standardized training that all chaplains and other Navy

[[Page E747]]

leaders receive in order to effectively deal with suicide situations. 
Further, he worked extensively on combat operation stress, particularly 
with its diagnosis and response. He co-authored a chapter in a 2012 
Marine Corp University textbook on combat operation stress titled, 
``Spiritual Injuries: Wounds of the American Warrior on the Battlefield 
of the Soul.'' He was also instrumental in training chaplains on how to 
minister to these hidden wounds. As a pastor and an educator, Chaplain 
Gibson has had an enormous impact on our Armed Services both in 
Northwest Florida and throughout the United States.
   From an early age, Chaplain Gibson learned the importance of serving 
God and his community. It is evident that this dedication has remained 
over the years, and thousands have been touched by his presence and 
service.
   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me 
great pride to honor the selfless service of David L. Gibson. My wife 
Vicki joins me in wishing David, his wife Tami, and their children, 
Zachary and Micah, all of the best.

                          ____________________