[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 38 (Monday, March 4, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN JON ``JR'' RODGERS

 Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, today I honor one of my 
constituents, CAPT Jon ``JR'' Rodgers of the U.S. Navy, who is retiring 
in June after three decades of dedicated service to our great Nation. 
JR has spent the last 2 years of his career serving the U.S. Congress 
as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs. In this role, JR 
maintained oversight of the Navy team that provides Members and 
committees of Congress with information concerning the programs of the 
Department of the Navy.
  JR's Tennessee roots run deep. The son of an air traffic control 
chief, he began life in Humbolt, TN, married his beautiful wife Sherry 
Masters from Celina, TN, and plans to return to our great State once 
his naval service has ended.
  This patriot's naval career began by enlisting as a nuclear trained 
electronics technician until receiving an NROTC scholarship to Cornell 
University. He graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in 
agriculture engineering technologies and received his commission as a 
surface warfare officer in 1990. JR continued his education by 
attending the National Defense University, graduating with honors from 
the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with a masters of science 
degree in national resource strategy. He also attended the Naval War 
College in Newport, RI, with a masters of arts in national security 
strategy.
  His sea duty assignments include tours on the USS England, CG 22, and 
the USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD 6, as a plank owner, where he received 
the Surface Navy Association's Arleigh Burke award for Operational 
Excellence. He also served as executive officer aboard the USS 
Cleveland, LPD 7, during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom 
as part of Amphibious Task Force West.
  More recently, JR commanded the mighty USS Makin Island, LHD 8, the 
first Navy ship with hybrid electric propulsion, where he completed a 
successful deployment to 5th and 7th Fleet. He also commanded USS 
Ponce, AFSB 15, as the Navy's first dedicated afloat forward staging 
base permanently deployed to Fifth Fleet.
  JR's overseas experience is just as impressive. He served as the U.S. 
European Command J3 chief of staff and branch head for the crisis 
action group during Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. He 
commanded Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Six, where he led 
over 600 Active and Reserve sailors on worldwide security missions that 
included the USNS Comfort Theater Security Cooperation missions 
throughout South America. He served as commander Task Unit Northern 
Arabian Gulf on the Iraq Al Basrah, ABOT, and Khor al-Amaya, KAAOT, oil 
terminals point defense mission, Panama and Suez Canal Embarked 
Security Team transits, and Operation Vigilant Mariner in Rota, Spain.
  I want to thank JR for his almost 30 years of loyal service to this 
Nation. He has made a lasting and significant contribution to the U.S. 
Navy and our Nation. I wish him, his wife, and their daughter all the 
best as they begin this new chapter in their live.

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