[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JAKE FERRARI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2017

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and 
women who continue to serve this great Nation with honor--men such as 
Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Jake Ferrari, United States Navy.
  For the past year, LCDR Ferrari, affectionately known in my office as 
``Snake,'' served on my staff as a Congressional Defense Fellow. A 2004 
graduate of the United States Naval Academy, LCDR Ferrari is a proud 
Surface Warfare Officer who served onboard USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), 
USS Tarawa (LHA-1), USS Milius (DDG 69), and USS Cape St. George (CG 
71). During his assignment in my office, LCDR Ferrari provided senior-
level input for defense, veterans, foreign affairs and intelligence 
matters. Additionally, he executed his work as a liaison to the 
constituents of Virginia's First Congressional District with 
distinction.
  Furthermore, LCDR Ferrari provided exceptional support to me as a 
staff liaison to the House Armed Services Committee in my role as the 
Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman. The year 2017 
proved to be a pivotal time for the Navy's surface community, 
highlighted by the tragic collisions of the USS Fitzgerald and USS 
McCain. In response, LCDR Ferrari dutifully provided me with guidance 
on what the Navy's path forward should be in critical areas such as 
training, readiness, and manning. His recent experience in the surface 
community was invaluable to my work in Congress.
  As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, the Co-
Chair of the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus, and the Chairman of the United 
States Naval Academy's Board of Visitors, I relied on LCDR Ferrari to 
organize quarterly events with government, military, and private sector 
leaders. These events allowed key decisionmakers to work together for 
the advancement of our future Naval Officers as well as the 
construction and repair of the ships on which they will serve.
  LCDR Ferrari also directly contributed to my goal of providing 
excellent constituent service to the people of the First District. He 
was responsible for bringing numerous constituent inquiries to a 
successful conclusion, and he leveraged his personal and operational 
experience in the Navy to respond to the most challenging inquiries. In 
addition to his efforts locally, LCDR Ferrari took on projects with 
regional, state, and national implications, demonstrating his ability 
to view a challenge from many angles and develop innovative solutions. 
Specifically, LCDR Ferrari served as my direct liaison to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the aftermath of the damage 
caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. His diligent communication 
and coordination with FEMA benefitted many of my constituents with 
family residing in Puerto Rico.
  LCDR Ferrari's work ethic, duty to mission, and commitment to servant 
leadership is without equal. I believe that his personal drive to 
achieve excellence in his work has and will set a very high standard 
for his peers. I would also like to thank LCDR Ferrari for the service 
and sacrifice he has made, and continues to make, both for our Nation 
and our great Navy. His keen sense of honor, impeccable integrity, 
boundless work ethic, and loyal devotion to duty earned him the respect 
and admiration of my staff and the First District of Virginia. I have 
no doubt that LCDR Ferrari will continue to serve the Navy honorably 
and with distinction.
  I wish Jake, his wife Laura, and their children Lilly, Jack, Lucy, 
and Eleanor the best of luck as they continue their journey together as 
a Navy family. It was an honor and a pleasure having him serve on my 
staff We all can sleep soundly at night knowing that members of our 
all-volunteer force like Jake stand ready to defend our country and 
take the fight to our enemies; far away from their families and the 
comforts of the United States of America.
  I thank LCDR Jake Ferrari for doing a fantastic job. Best of luck to 
him and may God bless him, his family, and all the Sailors he is 
charged with leading.

                          ____________________