[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E545-E546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF CAPTAIN GREG KEITHLY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2016

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Captain Greg 
Keithly on his retirement from the United States Navy after thirty five 
years of dedicated service.
  Captain Keithly enlisted in the Navy in July of 1981 and began his 
long career of loyal service to our nation. After his completion of 
U.S. Hull Maintenance Technician School at Treasure Island, California 
and later Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he would go on to serve

[[Page E546]]

as a Hull Technician on the USS McKee and the USS Fletcher which was 
deployed to the Western Pacific.
  Captain Keithly later attended the University of San Diego under the 
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program where he earned a 
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Upon his graduation in 
1989, Captain Keithly continued his career with the United States Navy 
as a commissioned officer.
  Captain Keithly subsequently began his first fleet tour, during which 
he served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in support of Operation Restore 
Hope in Somalia, as well as Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. 
Additionally, he completed a second tour duty in the Western Pacific.
  His faithful service continued in 1997 with his assignment as the 
squadron Training Officer and Operations Officer to the ``Black 
Knights'' of Atsugi, Japan. In December 2000, Captain Keithly moved on 
to serve as the Operations Officer for the Navy's first Super Hornet 
Fleet Replacement Squadron in Lemoore, California.
  In July 2002, Captain Keithly furthered his education at the United 
States Naval War College located in Newport, Rhode Island where he 
received a master's degree. He simultaneously completed the Naval 
Operations Planners Course and was designated a Naval Operational 
Planner.
  After his graduation from the Naval War College, Captain Keithly 
reported to the ``Black Aces'' where he diligently served as the 
Commanding Officer until July 2008. During his time with the ``Black 
Aces,'' he was deployed twice onboard the USS Nimitz where he lead his 
squadron during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Captain Keithly reported to the Third Fleet in August of 2008 and 
served in various roles including Chief of Plans, N5 Assistant Chief of 
Staff for Plans and Policy, and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for the 
N5/N7.
  In 2012, Captain Keithly was promoted to Deputy-Commander of the 
Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Lemoore, California and he 
would soon thereafter assume full command of the largest type wing in 
the U.S. Navy. He would serve in this position until December 2014.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing Captain Greg Keithly for his years of dedicated 
and unwavering service to the United States Navy.

                          ____________________