[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 76 (Monday, June 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E771-E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF CAPTAIN MARC DENNO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2013

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Marc Denno, 
United States Navy, as he concludes his service as the 49th Commanding 
Officer of Naval Submarine Base New London. On behalf of southeastern 
Connecticut, I thank Captain Denno for his service, his leadership and 
his friendship to our community.
  A native of Minnesota, Denno graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985 
and went on to serve in a number of capacities throughout the Submarine 
Force, including Damage Control Assistant on the USS George Bancroft 
(SSBN 643), Engineer Officer on the USS Bluefish (SSN 675), Executive 
Officer of USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) (Blue) and Commanding Officer 
of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Jimmy Carter (SSN 23). He served as 
Commanding Officer of the USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705), which, 
while under his command, was twice awarded the Battle ``E'' and earned 
the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Navy Unit Commendation. Captain 
Denno's shore assignments include the Shift Engineer and Material 
Officer at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston, as well as Chief 
Staff Officer and Director of the Tactical Analysis Group on the staff 
of Commander, Submarine Development Squadron Twelve.
  It was during his tour as Commanding Officer of Submarine Base New 
London, however, that I got the chance to work closely with Captain 
Denno. Known both as the ``First and Finest'' submarine base in our 
Navy and the ``Submarine Capitol of the World,'' Submarine Base New 
London is a military installation that is closely tied to the fabric of 
the community that surrounds it. In a region that follows developments 
on the base like a box score, Captain Denno's four year tour at the 
base was distinguished by a focus on the fundamentals of supporting the 
submarine force, a focus on the vitality and viability of the base, and 
deepening the connections between the base and its host community and 
state.
  During his tenure, Captain Denno was an active leader in tending to 
the base's key mission area: the support and operation of the 
submarines assigned to New London. Under Captain Denno's leadership the 
base undertook close to $200 million in major infrastructure projects 
and capital investment. Infrastructure improvements included the 
recapitalization of Pier 31 and the construction of a new Port 
Operations Center, a new Indoor Smalls Arms Range, and a new synthetic 
Track and Field, among other projects. As important, he led the 
demolition of 450,000 square feet of excess and outdated buildings and 
infrastructure that have reduced the footprint and operating costs of 
the base. And, working joining with the State of Connecticut, Captain 
Denno deepened the relationship between the base and its host state 
through a unique partnership. Under Captain Denno's command and through 
his collaboration with State officials, Connecticut invested 
unprecedented resources into the future of the base, supporting new 
projects like a new diver facility, an up to date boiler for the power 
plant, critical additions to training facilities, and a joint project 
with the local communities to address encroachment issues.
  Beyond the nuts and bolts of base infrastructure, Captain Denno 
prioritized efforts to deepen the connection between the sailors 
assigned to New London and the surrounding community. Under his watch, 
9,000 members of the base community contributed 47,000 community 
service volunteer hours in the region in local schools and in a number 
of organizations like the American Red Cross, the Boy and Girls Scouts 
of American, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Special Olympics. 
And, Captain Denno was instrumental in broader regional events like 
OPSAIL Connecticut 2012, in which he helped to coordinate Navy 
involvement in this daunted undertaking, from working with the local 
community to support the event to coordinating naval vessel 
participation--and many things in between.
  From being a constant presence as community meetings to spearheading 
stakeholder orientation tours of the base, leading key military 
education initiatives and being the public face of the base, Captain 
Denno was a fixture in the southeastern Connecticut community during 
his four years at SUBASE New London. It is no wonder then that SUBASE 
New London was selected from among the region's more than 20 other 
installations and activities as the unprecedented winner for two 
consecutive years of the annual Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic's 
Award for Installation Excellence, in 2010 and 2011.
  As you might imagine, a good working relationship with SUBASE New 
London and its Commanding Officer is a prerequisite for anyone in the 
position of representing eastern Connecticut in Congress. However, I 
consider myself privileged to have worked so closely with Captain Denno 
over the last four years not just in his capacity as a Navy officer, 
but as a friend and occasional golf partner. He and his team have never 
been more than a phone call or email away, and the connection between 
his office and mine has been nothing short of a two way street as we 
tackled the key challenges facing the base. I am grateful for his time, 
his advice, his counsel and most of all, his unflagging commitment to 
Connecticut's base and the sailors and submarine stationed at it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking Captain 
Denno for his service to SUBASE New London and wishing him and his 
family ``fair winds and following seas'' as he heads to his next 
assignment in service to our country.

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