[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 86 (Thursday, May 7, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING SARKIS TATIGIAN

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senator 
Reed, we come to the floor today to ask our colleagues to join us in 
recognizing Mr. Sarkis Tatigian, who began his Navy career at the age 
of 19 during World War II and didn't end it until he passed away last 
month at age 97.
  At the time of his death, Mr. Tatigian, after nearly 78 years of 
service, was the longest serving civil servant in the history of the 
DOD. He was the only WWII sailor still serving in the Navy Department.
  Eligible for retirement since 1973, Mr. Tatigian continued to honor 
America through his faithful service as the Naval Sea Systems 
Command's, NAVSEA, small business advocate, championing our Navy, our 
small businesses, and our country.
  Mr. Tatigian began his civilian career with the Navy in July 1942 as 
a junior radio inspector at the naval aircraft factory in the 
Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Navy Office of Inspector of Naval 
Aircraft in Linden, NJ. He left his position as an inspector in March 
1943 and entered the uniformed Navy as an Active-Duty sailor in April 
1943. In June 1944, as an aviation electronics technician's mate, he 
aided in the development of the Navy's first guided anti-ship munition, 
the ASM-N-2 ``BAT'' glide bomb. The BAT became an operational weapon in 
January 1945 and was used to sink two Japanese warships later that 
year.
  In 1943, Mr. Tatigian began his service at NAVSEA, then called the 
Bureau of Ordinance. After World War II, he transitioned from the 
Active-Duty to the civil service working on guided munitions.
  In 1951, Mr. Tatigian saw the need to expand the Navy's industrial 
base and believed that small business was the answer. He developed a 
small business mobile exhibit that traveled coast to coast, visiting 
all State capitals and cities with populations exceeding 400,000. For 
his organizational efforts on the exhibit, Tatigian received 
congressional recognition. His work expanded the small business 
industrial base with more than $100 billion in contracts awarded to 
diverse, small businesses.
  Over his unprecedented career, Mr. Tatigian received numerous awards, 
including the Navy's Superior Civilian Service Award in 2007. In 
recognition of his exceptional accomplishments in service, the Navy has 
even named an award after him, the Sarkis Tatigian Small Business 
Award, which recognizes outstanding performance through organizational 
culture and command climate.
  Mr. Tatigian's life of dedication and service to his country is truly 
inspirational. On behalf of a grateful nation, we thank you, Mr. Sarkis 
Tatigian, for all you have done for our people, our government, and our 
Navy.

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