[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  A TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER WILLIAM EBBS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Commander William Ebbs, who provided invaluable service to Congress on 
national security issues for two years as a congressional liaison in 
the Office of the Navy's Director of Budget, and who will soon be on 
the front lines of our nation's defense as commander of a submarine.
  Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, CDR Ebbs enlisted in the Navy in 
May 1976. He completed boot camp at the Naval Training Center, San 
Diego and attended Nuclear Power Training at the Naval Training Center, 
Orlando, Florida. At the completion of his qualification as a nuclear 
propulsion plant operator, he was assigned to USS Von Steuben SSBN 632, 
a Lafayette class fleet ballistic missile submarine. After four 
strategic patrols on Von Steuben, he was detailed in 1979 as a member 
of the ship's refueling/overhaul crew. It was during this time that CDR 
Ebbs applied for and was accepted to participate in the Navy Enlisted 
Commissioning Program. Under this program, CDR Ebbs attended Auburn 
University and graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in 
Electrical Engineering.
  Commissioned an Ensign after attending Officer Candidate School in 
Newport, Rhode Island, CDR Ebbs was designated a submarine officer and 
assigned to the USS Key West SSN 722, then the Navy's newest Los 
Angeles Class Fast Attack submarine. During this time, the Commander, 
Submarine Squadron Eight, recognized him as the ``1989 Junior Officer 
of the Year.''
  After a tour in the Manpower division on the Staff of the Commander, 
Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet, he attended the Submarine Office 
Advanced Course and was assigned as the Chief Engineer on USS Atlanta 
SSN 712, a Los Angeles class submarine stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.
  Following a tour as the submarine special operations officer at the 
United States Atlantic Command, CDR Ebbs was assigned as Executive 
Officer of USS West Virginia SSGN 736, a Trident class Fleet Ballistic 
Missile submarine stationed in Kings Bay, Georgia.
  In the spring of 1999, CDR Ebbs was assigned to the Office of the 
Navy's Director of Budget as a Congressional Liaison. During his time 
as a Congressional Liaison, CDR Ebbs provided invaluable support to me, 
the Appropriations Committee, and the various Members and personal 
staff of the Subcommittee on Defense. He displayed a unique ability to 
explain complex military requirements in the context of an 
appropriations framework, serving this Committee well and reflecting 
great credit on the Department of the Navy. CDR Ebbs left the Office of 
the Navy's Director of Budget earlier this year for a new assignment.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the great honor to inform the Members of the 
Committee and the Congress that on January 11, 2002, CDR William Ebbs 
will take Command of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine USS 
Louisiana stationed in Kings Bay, Georgia. We thank him, his wife 
Patricia, and their boys Arthur and Parker, for their years of service 
and sacrifice. We wish William God's speed and protection.

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