[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MR. ARTURO ALBERTO DIAZ, SENIOR OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR 
               NEW CONSTRUCTION, MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

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                          HON. SCOTT H. PETERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  Mr. PETERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary contributions of Mr. Arturo Alberto Diaz, a public 
servant of the highest caliber who dedicated his entire life to the 
service of our nation. Over a career that exceeded three decades, Mr. 
Diaz selflessly served the United States Navy shipbuilding and maritime 
industry, contributing directly to the delivery of over 40 ships to the 
nation's maritime forces. Mr. Diaz passed away on December 24, 2012, 
but he has left behind a long and lasting legacy to our nation--both 
through his unparalleled technical contributions to the strength and 
flexibility of our Navy's surface fleet and through the generation of 
professionals that he has mentored throughout his time in federal 
service. Today, it is my great honor to recognize his achievements and 
thank his wife and family for his service.
  Mr. Diaz's pursuit of a life of public service began in 1972 at the 
Admiral Farragut Academy in New Jersey, where he spent three years and 
ultimately achieved the Battalion Executive Officer position his senior 
year. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy at Kings Point, New York, receiving a Bachelor of Science 
degree in Marine Engineering in 1979 and a Third Assistant Engineer 
License from the U.S. Coast Guard. While attending the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy, he further achieved the rank and position of 
Regimental Executive Officer his senior year. He served with 
distinction as a U.S. Coast Guard officer from 1979 to 1984 before 
joining the federal civil service, where he went to work for the Navy 
as a civilian Construction Representative for the Military Sealift 
Command (MSC). Mr. Diaz rose through the chain of command to become the 
MSC Senior Owner's Representative for New Construction. During his 
tenure, he became widely known as an unparalleled expert in his field, 
working tirelessly to ensure that the operator's needs were integrated 
throughout the ship design and construction process.
  Mr. Diaz had a long and distinguished career of innovative thinking 
and aggressive execution of shipbuilding programs across the entire 
spectrum of military sealift new construction and conversion. A man of 
uncommon character and boundless passion, he was highly respected 
throughout the naval shipbuilding and ship operations community as a 
visionary leader, team builder, and technical problem solver. Since 
joining federal service in 1984, he held a variety of technical and key 
leadership roles throughout his professional career. He also provided 
strong technical consultation to groups such as the National 
Shipbuilding Research Program and the Marine Engineering and Shipyard 
Management Program, where he worked tirelessly with his peers 
throughout government and industry across the globe to promote the open 
interchange of ideas and information and constantly improve 
shipbuilding and conversion processes and technology. When technical 
assistance was required on both U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command 
ships, the Navy often called upon Mr. Diaz for his support. The expert 
technical leadership and ship design, construction, and ship 
operational knowledge that he shared throughout his career contributed 
to hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayers' savings in ship 
acquisition and annual operation costs over the life of the forty ships 
that he was responsible for delivering to the Navy's Military Sealift 
Command. Beyond the shipbuilding programs with which he was actively 
involved and which serve as tangible evidence of his commitment and 
technical acumen, perhaps his most lasting and profound legacy will be 
the development he fostered and advocated in emerging leaders in naval 
shipbuilding. He left a lasting impression on countless young 
professionals who will exemplify his leadership principles throughout 
their promising careers. Simply put, he brought out the best in them 
and cultivated a love of the trade. Throughout his distinguished 
federal service career, he has been honored with numerous awards for 
his exceptional service, including Superior and Meritorious Civilian 
Service Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, and other prominent citations.
  Mr. Diaz's contributions to our nation extend far beyond his material 
achievements and specific accomplishments. He was an inspiration to all 
who served with him, government and industry alike, ensuring that all 
members of his team were keenly aware of their importance to the Navy 
and the true appreciation that he held for their efforts. His unique 
ability to recognize talent and to foster respect and camaraderie 
throughout the workforce has had an enormous influence on everyone he 
met and will continue to steer the course of our Navy well into the 
future. One of his most memorable quotes is ``Friends build ships.'' 
Mr. Diaz recognized both the arm's length nature of government and 
industry negotiations as well as the necessity for teamwork. During a 
challenging time in the completion of the lead ship of the Navy's new 
Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), Mr. Diaz provided a compilation of ``22 
Attributes of a Good Team'' to help bring the team together. The 
soundness of his observations regarding teams is clearly reflected in 
the teamwork that exists in the shipbuilding community today, as well 
as through the scores of young engineers who are now carrying forth his 
legacy into the next generation of ships for the Navy.
  Mr. Diaz's tireless leadership and lifelong commitment to Navy 
shipbuilding new construction and conversion have earned him the deep 
respect of his peers and shipmates throughout the Military Sealift 
Command, Navy acquisition, and commercial shipbuilding community. His 
was a life of courage and consequence--a life devoted to the security 
of our nation. Mr. Diaz touched the lives of all who knew him, and it 
is my great honor to recognize him posthumously for his service. I know 
my colleagues join me in thanking his wife, Lisa, for sharing him with 
us these many years and wish her fair winds and following seas.

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