[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E10-E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE SERVICE OF ADMIRAL JAMES FRANK CALDWELL, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2024

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished 
service of Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Admiral 
James Frank Caldwell, Jr. This month, Admiral Caldwell is slated to 
retire after over eight years as head of the program, which was only 
one part of an amazing forty-two-year career in the Navy. The longevity 
of his service was recognized by the U.S. Navy when he attained the 
respected title of ``Old Goat'' for the longest serving graduate of the 
U.S. Naval Academy on August 31, 2022. His talented, outstanding 
dedication to his country, as well as his expertise, will leave a 
momentous, far-reaching legacy that will live on for many years to 
come.
  Frank Caldwell comes from a family with a deep Navy background. As a 
fifth-generation Naval Academy graduate, Admiral Caldwell graduated 
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering in 1981 with 
distinction. His thirst for knowledge continued after that bachelor's 
degree. He later pursued, and received, a Master of Science in 
Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. All that 
advanced learning prepared him for the elite assignments he was chosen 
for during his illustrious career.
  Admiral Caldwell's first operational posts directed him to serve as a 
division officer on USS Boston, an engineering officer on USS Alabama, 
and an executive officer on USS Buffalo. Admiral Caldwell commanded USS 
Jacksonville, ported in Norfolk, Virginia, and served as the Commanding 
Officer for Submarine Development Squadron 12 in my district at Naval 
Submarine Base New London in Connecticut.
  The pinnacle of his career came on August 14, 2015, when the United 
States Senate confirmed his nomination by President Barack Obama as the 
seventh Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. This highly 
unique position, which has the solemn responsibility for the safe and 
reliable operation of the United States Nuclear Navy, has authorities 
vested within both the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Energy. No other military officer has such a portfolio. Its pedigree 
reaches back seventy-five years to the legendary Admiral Hyman G. 
Rickover, whose foresight in 1948 introduced nuclear propulsion into 
naval vessels, transforming American seapower forever.
  During his tenure, Admiral Caldwell has completed outstanding work to 
develop and maintain a modernized squadron of nuclear submarines and 
aircraft carriers. Under his leadership at Naval Reactors, he has done 
remarkable work to stabilize the surface and undersea enterprise and 
has ensured our industrial base is positioned to meet the moment, 
especially as we usher in a new class of ballistic submarines through 
development and construction of the Columbia-class program. Most 
significantly, Admiral Caldwell's expertise has been critical as the 
United States embarks on a generational security agreement with our 
closest allies--the United Kingdom and Australia--as we transfer, for 
the first time ever, our nuclear-powered attack submarines and 
technology to another nation under the trilateral AUKUS security 
agreement.
  After the AUKUS strategy was first announced in September 2021, all 
three nations conducted an 18-month analysis and review to develop a 
comprehensive framework for its actual execution. Admiral Caldwell's 
knowledge and first-hand experience in all aspects of construction, 
maintenance, and operation of nuclear vessels was instrumental in the 
release of the ``Optimal Pathway'' that occurred

[[Page E11]]

on March 13, 2023, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California. 
Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Congress enacted AUKUS authorities into 
the law of the land--in line with that plan--which is an emphatic 
endorsement of his collaborative work. This was truly a fitting, legacy 
moment as Admiral Caldwell's career drew to a close.
  Mr. Speaker, as both Ranking Member and Chair of the House Armed 
Services' Seapower Projection Forces Subcommittee, I have had a front 
row seat to Admiral Caldwell's impact. I ask that my colleagues in the 
House, and particularly those who serve on the House Armed Services 
Committee, join me in recognizing Admiral Caldwell and his wife Kim, 
for their life of service to the Navy and the United States.

                          ____________________