[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 174 (Thursday, November 10, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1128-E1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING U.S. NAVY COMMANDER SHERRI R. ZIMMERMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2022

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in honor of retired 
Navy Commander Sherri R. Zimmerman, a distinguished military leader who 
graciously served on my 2018 Military Service Academy Nominations 
Board.
  Commander Zimmerman enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and quickly 
distinguished herself as a talented leader. In 1994, she enrolled in 
the U.S. Naval Academy, and graduated four years later with a Bachelor 
of Science degree in English and a commission as a Cryptologic Officer.
  Commander Zimmerman attended the Navy Cryptologic Division Officer 
training in Pensacola, Florida. Subsequently, she reported to

[[Page E1129]]

Naval Security Group Activity Menwith Hill in Harrogate, UK, as 
Division Officer and an Operation Watch Officer.
  In 2002, Commander Zimmerman graduated from the Naval Postgraduate 
School in Monterey, California, with a Master of Science in Space 
Systems Operations. She also completed Joint Professional Military 
Education Phase I through the Naval War College. Her payback tour was 
at SPAWAR Space Field Activity in Chantilly, Virginia, as Chief of the 
SIGINT Director's Action Group, then on the staff of the Director of 
the National Reconnaissance Office.
  For Commander Zimmerman's department head tour, she was assigned to 
the Navy Cyber Defense Operation Command in Norfolk, Virginia. While 
there, she led as Deputy of Operations in the Training and Exercise 
Department. During this tour, she was also assigned as an Individual 
Augmentee to Multi-National Corps Iraq as an Information Operations 
Planner. She served in this role for 12 months in Baghdad, Iraq, and 
helped support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  In May 2009, Commander Zimmerman became the Officer in Charge of the 
Navy Information Operations Detachment Chesapeake until the unit's 
disestablishment in December 2011. She also earned a Master of Science 
in Management and a Master of Business Administration from the 
University of Maryland. Commander Zimmerman completed her O5 milestone 
tour at U.S. Fleet Forces Command as N24 Fleet Intelligence, 
Information Operations, and Electronic Warfare Readiness.
  From 2013 to 2014, Commander Zimmerman was assigned to Navy Cyber 
Forces in Suffolk, Virginia. She served as the Deputy Assistant Chief 
of Staff for Readiness and Modernization (N4) and then as the Deputy 
Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness (N3).
  Commander Zimmerman served as Executive Officer of the Navy 
Information Operations Command (NIOC) Texas from May 2014 to June 2015. 
One month later, she reported to NIOC San Diego to assume Command in 
July 2015.
  Commander Zimmerman retired from Active Duty on November 1, 2017. Her 
military decorations include the Information Dominance Warfare Officer 
pin, the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the 
Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and 
Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other service medals and 
ribbons.
  In 2017, Commander Zimmerman joined USAA in San Antonio, Texas, as 
the Military Affairs Service Academy Relationship Director. She lives 
in San Antonio with her family and is a proud mother to three children: 
sons Orion and Declan and daughter Eala.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Commander Zimmerman for her 
extraordinary commitment to public service. As a member of my Military 
Service Academy Nominations Board for the 20th District of Texas, she 
has played an invaluable role in ushering in the next generation of 
military leaders, and my office has benefited from her wisdom and 
expertise. I am grateful for Commander Zimmerman's service to the 
United States, and I wish her and her family the best.

                          ____________________