[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 APPRECIATING COMMANDER BRUCE SAMUEL KIMBRELL, JR. FOR HIS SERVICE TO 
               THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL WALTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2024

  Mr. WALTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and an 
exceptional leader in our U.S. Navy.
  Commander Bruce Kimbrell has distinguished himself through his 
professional character and dedication by serving this Nation in 
uniform. For the past year, Commander Kimbrell served admirably as the 
Department of Defense Legislative Fellow for my office where he handled 
House Armed Service Committee hearing preparation and execution while 
also contributing to my work on with the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee, and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Above 
all, he was the driving force behind my Maritime policy portfolio via 
multiple, pieces of maritime legislation, congressional letters, as 
well as multiple Maritime Statecraft engagements with representatives 
from the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, Maritime 
Administrator, and an extensive executive list of Maritime industry 
stakeholders involved in carrying out maritime statecraft activities 
and national maritime strategy.
  His efforts advanced a shared effort for reinvigorating our Nation's 
maritime sector and gaining greater insight into the tools available 
for helping create a more favorable global environment for advancing 
America's maritime power.
  Commander Kimbrell has had a remarkable twenty-two-year career after 
enlisting into the U.S. Navy in 2002, graduating from the University of 
Massachusetts in 2011, and commissioning as an Ensign designated as an 
Intelligence Officer. He served aboard two aircraft carriers, an 
amphibious war ship, as well as temporary duties aboard the NATO Afloat 
Standing Maritime Group Flag Ship. Later, he won the 2017 RADM Thomas A 
Brooks Junior Officer of the Year for the Naval Intelligence Community 
Award while assigned to Carrier Air Wing THREE. He also served as the 
Deputy Director of Maritime Intelligence Operations Center and Chief of 
Targets for U.S. FIFTH Fleet during which he was designated as a member 
of the Military Top 40 Under 40 in 2017 by Recruit Military, Bradley 
Morris, Inc. In addition, he served as the Executive Assistance to the 
Director Maritime Operations as U.S. Pacific Fleet prior to his role as 
Special Advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations on force design, 
strategic planning, ally and partner interoperability, and strategic 
risk.
  The Secretary of the Navy was impressed enough by his legislative 
work and especially in his creation of the maritime task force that he 
selected Commander Kimbrell to serve as his Special Advisor in which he 
advised the Secretary on maritime policy at the intersection of 
industry, government agencies, strategic think tanks, maritime advocacy 
groups, and U.S. Congress. His efforts led to the second annual 
Maritime Statecraft Innovation workshop sponsored by the Secretary of 
the Navy and Maritime Administration.
  Mr. Speaker, next month Commander Kimbrell will assume duties as the 
Deputy Legislative Director to the Commander of European Command in 
Stuttgart, Germany. It has been a great pleasure to work with Commander 
Kimbrell during his time representing the Department of Defense in my 
office on Capitol Hill. On behalf of our grateful Nation, it is my 
honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Commander 
Kimbrell and his four children. I wish them the very best as they 
continue their journey in our U.S. Navy. They have dedicated their 
lives to the service of our great Nation.

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