[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1621-E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN DANA R. GORDON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 10, 2018

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and 
native South Carolinian Dana R. Gordon upon his retirement after a long 
and distinguished service to this nation. Captain Gordon will retire 
this month after 29 years of service in the United States Navy.
  A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Captain Gordon graduated with a 
Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech 
University in 1989. He was commissioned in the United States Navy 
through the school's Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps (NROTC) 
program. He received designation as a Naval Aviator in 1991. Captain 
Gordon later earned an MBA from Embry-Riddle University and has 
completed in-residence coursework at the Harvard Business School.
  Captain Gordon completed his flight training in the SH-60B Seahawk 
Helicopter and has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours, including 
numerous deployments onboard CRUDES ships while serving multiple tours 
with Helicopter Squadrons at HSL-40, 42, and 44 in Mayport, Florida.
  He has served as both Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the 
HSL-42 Proud Warriors, as well as Executive Officer and Commanding 
Officer of the USS Iwo

[[Page E1622]]

Jima. Under his leadership, both commands won multiple Battle 
Efficiency Awards, as well as the Secretary of the Navy Safety Award as 
the Navy's safest operational fleet Squadron and Big Deck Amphibious 
ship.
  Captain Gordon was most recently assigned to Navy Region Southeast 
where his Emergency Management team has been responsible for the 
evacuation, recovery and safe return of thousands of sailors and 
civilians after Hurricanes Matthew, Harvey, Irma and Maria. He has 
served as fleet pilot, flight instructor, weapons and tactics 
instructor and had shore duty in Millington, Tennessee, San Diego, 
California and on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.
  Captain Gordon was nominated by the Navy and was selected to 
Diversity Magazine's top 100 Diverse Executive Leaders. He is proudest 
of the many unit, campaign, and service awards that he shares with his 
fellow service members and civilian counterparts throughout his many 
tours of duty both at sea and ashore.
  He will be joined at the ceremony by his mother, Mrs. Delores M. 
Gordon, his wife the former Rolanda Ogletree; their daughters Danielle 
Lauren and Reese Catharine, his siblings; Jule McDuffie and Valerie 
Hearn; and several of his close friends, among them, his college mate 
and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity brother Walter A. Reed and his wife Dr. 
Jennifer C. Reed. Captain Gordon's late father, Mr. Bobby L. Gordon, 
played football in college and for several teams in the National 
Football League.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in thanking 
Captain Dana R. Gordon for his many years of exemplary service and 
congratulating him on his well-earned retirement.

                          ____________________