[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7203-S7204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER MICHAEL D. CASSADY

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
Commander Michael D. Cassady, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy. 
Commander Cassady currently serves as the Program Manager, Naval 
Advanced Medical Development at the Naval Medical Research Center and 
will be released from Active Duty after almost 35 years of Active 
military service on March 1, 2019. Commander Cassady is a native of 
Millersport, OH, and I am pleased to recognize his distinguished 
career.
  Commander Cassady enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 21, 1985, and 
after

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completing initial training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, 
he earned designation as a hospital corpsman third class. In 1991, 
Cassady graduated from University of Maryland University College and 
received a commission on June 8, 1993 as an environmental health 
officer.
  From 1993 to 1999, Cassady completed tours at the U.S. Naval Hospital 
Keflavik in Iceland and Branch Medical Clinic in Iwakuni, Japan, where 
he increased the overall readiness and health of hospital staff and 
improved testing of the base drinking water. In 2001, he deployed to 
Australia in support of Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001 and later deployed 
to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2002 to improve combat 
readiness, combined-joint interoperability, and enhance security 
relationships between the United States, Thailand, and Singaporean 
forces. He subsequently served as a medical department and safety 
inspector for the Board of Inspection and Survey, providing direct 
support to the fleet; and as chief, medical concept and development, 
Joint Forces Command, where he furthered joint warfighter capabilities 
and supported U.S. Northern Command response and relief efforts post 
Hurricane Katrina.
  In 2006, he deployed to Iraq in support of combat operations, where 
he served as the civil affairs public health section lead, Multi-
National Division in Baghdad. Upon returning from Iraq, he served as 
the assistant officer in charge for the Navy Environmental and 
Preventive Medicine Unit Two. Cassady also deployed as the medical 
planning officer in Expeditionary Strike Group Two and U.S. Naval 
Forces Central Command in Bahrain, where he was instrumental in 
coordinating medical plans, guidance, and response to counter piracy 
and Marine Corps operations, and health service support to the U.S. 
FIFTH Fleet. His next two tours of duty were as the Environmental 
Health Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and 
the U.S. Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy. During these tours he 
provided public health oversight and leadership. Commander Cassady 
reported to his current and final tour of duty in July 2014 at the 
Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, where he provides 
program management, leadership, and key administrative direction.
  Commander Cassady has spent the entirety of his adult life and over 
15 of his 35 years of naval service deployed or stationed overseas in 
the defense of the United States. Additionally, he holds a master of 
science in management from Troy State University, a master of public 
health degree from the Ohio State University, a master of arts in 
national security and strategy from the Naval War College in 2007, and 
a master of science in education from Old Dominion University, which he 
completed in December of 2011.
  Mr. President, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and Commander 
Mike Cassady's family and friends in saluting this distinguished 
officer's many contributions and sacrifices in defense of our great 
Nation. It is fitting that the Senate today publicly recognizes his 
service and wishes him, his wife Rohini, and their children, Rhyan, 
Kassandra, Briana, and David, health, happiness, and success in the 
years to come.
  Congratulations, Commander Cassady, on completing an exemplary 
career.

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