[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SANDRA E. LATTA

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Ms. Sandra E. Latta, 
who is retiring from the Department of the Navy after more than 35 
years of faithful civilian service to our Nation, culminating as the 
Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs for Strategy and Assessment, Office 
of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of the Navy.
  Ms. Latta's contributions to the Department of the Navy have been 
numerous. Her responsibilities include directing the Department's 
legislative strategy and directly supporting the President's budget 
submission and subsequent congressional action on the annual National 
Defense Authorization Act. As one of two deputies in the Office of 
Legislative Affairs, and the only civilian to serve in that capacity, 
Ms. Latta established and executed the overall legislative direction 
for the Department of the Navy. During her tenure, Ms. Latta provided 
expert congressional advice to six Secretaries of the Navy and seven 
Chiefs of Naval Operations as they met with congressional leaders and 
staff to advance the priorities of the Department of the Navy.
  Ms. Latta began her Washington career on the staff of U.S. 
Representative Bill Hefner of North Carolina, who was a senior member 
of the House Appropriations Committee. During her 14-year tenure with 
Representative Hefner, Ms. Latta advised the Congressman on a range of 
policy issues and for 8 of those years served as his press secretary. 
Prior to her tenure with the Department of the Navy, Ms. Latta worked 
for 5 years in the private sector, where she established and led a team 
that advised the Navy on congressional activities affecting defense 
policy and budgets. She then brought her significant experience and 
leadership to the Department of the Navy in 2003, to serve as the first 
civilian Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs.
  Ms. Latta is a native of Mocksville, NC. She received a B.A. in 
political science from North Carolina State University and currently 
serves on the advisory council for the School of Public and 
International Affairs.
  Throughout her career, Ms. Latta's leadership and performance has 
been recognized by numerous awards including the Department of the 
Navy's Distinguished Civilian Service Award and the Department of 
Defense's Spirit of Service Award.
  I am proud to recognize Ms. Latta, and I thank her and her family for 
her honorable service to our nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
wishing Ms. Sandra Latta ``fair winds and following seas'' as she 
concludes a distinguished career of public service.

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