[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE OF REAR ADMIRAL KEVIN FRANCIS DELANEY, USN (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2016

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and life 
of Rear Admiral Kevin Francis Delaney, USN (Ret.), who defended our 
nation with distinction for 34 years as a member of the United States 
Navy. He died on April 7, 2015, but on June 10, 2016 we have yet 
another occasion to honor his service to our country and community. On 
that day, Hangar 1122 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS 
Jacksonville) will be named in Kevin's honor for his outstanding 
airmanship and courage, his exceptional stewardship of natural 
resources, and his leadership and concern for the sailors of the United 
States Navy.
   I'd like to take a moment to share some of Kevin's accomplishments 
through the course of his career both in and out of uniform. His 
commitment to our country did not end with retirement: He used his 
quality leadership skills, infectious charismatic spirit, and deep-
seated care for his fellow citizens and worked hard in our 
Jacksonville, Florida community to make it a better place.
   Kevin was a proud Vietnam Veteran. He flew helicopter gunships on 
686 combat missions in support of the Navy riverine forces and SEAL 
units in the Mekong Delta. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in 
action on one of those missions, Kevin was awarded the Silver Star. In 
all, Kevin received 98 awards and decorations of which 64 were for 
combat action and also included the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 
Single Action Air Medals, 26 Strike/Fight Air Medals, and six Republic 
of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses.
   Kevin served in six operational aircraft squadrons, had multiple 
major staff assignments, and was air boss on the USS Guadalcanal off 
the coast of Beirut. His naval career included six command tours 
including two aviation squadrons, an aircraft wing, and NAS 
Jacksonville. Under his command, the base was selected as the Navy's 
top shore installation in 1991. Kevin was awarded the Legion of Merit 
as Commanding Officer of NAS Jacksonville for, among other things, 
enhancing the quality of life for all personnel and improving the 
profitability of morale, welfare, and recreation programs by 107 
percent by utilizing a unique Treat Everyone As Myself (TEAM) approach.
   Kevin's final command, headquartered at NAS Jacksonville, was as the 
Navy's Regional Commander for the Southeastern United States and the 
Caribbean. Rear Admiral Delaney was responsible for over 40 commands, 
including 17 major naval installations. He received the Navy 
Distinguished Service Medal for his work as the Commander. The 
accompanying citation says: A brilliant visionary, he built solid and 
ambitious professional partnerships with local community agencies.
   Kevin came to our town in the military, but he remained as a veteran 
and became a great civic leader. He was recognized as one of 
Jacksonville's 10 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Decade in 
2000. The list of volunteer activities of Kevin Delaney is both long 
and varied. He served on the boards of 19 area non-profit organizations 
and was past chairman or president of the following organizations: the 
Ronald McDonald House Advisory Board, Florida State College of 
Jacksonville Foundation, Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Northeast Florida 
Safety Council, United Way of Northeast Florida, and Jacksonville 
Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Kevin was appointed by the Governor of 
Florida to serve on the Florida Defense Support Task Force and also 
served on the U.S. Small business Administration's National Advisory 
council, and on the National Board of Directors of The Wounded Warrior 
Project.
   In 2014, Kevin was honored by the SBA as the Veteran Small Business 
Champion of the Year for Florida, by the Jacksonville Business Journal 
as a Veteran of Influence, and by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of 
Commerce as the first member of its Military Hall of Fame. It was later 
named in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to 
join me in saluting the life and service of Rear Admiral Kevin F. 
Delaney, USN (Ret.).

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