NEW: Reed Receives Navy’s Highest Civilian Honor

Thursday, January 24, 2013

U.S. Senator Jack Reed received a very prestigious honor today as, during a ceremony in Washington, the Rhode Island Congressman was bestowed with the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest honor the Navy can give to a civilian that is not in its service.

Reed, who is the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, received the award for his “exceptional service” to the Navy and his “tireless advocacy of shipbuilding programs and strong support of the Naval War College,” according to the citation.

Established in 1951, the award is presented to civilians for contributions, accomplishments, or exceptionally outstanding service of substantial and long-term benefit to the Navy, Marine Corps, or Department of the Navy as a whole.

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“I am honored to receive this award and truly humbled by the courageous service and sacrifice of our sailors and Marines,” Reed said. “I will continue doing everything I can to support our service members and their families and ensure they have the resources they need to carry out their mission and come home safely.”

Reed gave a special shout-out to Rhode Island workers in the defense industry who he said “play a critical role in equipping our forces and building the submarines of tomorrow.”

Reed played a vital role in the Quonset-based Electric Boar company’s landing of a defense contract to build two Virginia-class submarines per fiscal year for both 2013 and 2014.

“Submarines are extremely effective force multipliers and deterrents to our adversaries,” Reed said. “Submarine manufacturing is a vital part of Rhode Island’s defense industry, and I am pleased we were able to keep the Virginia-class submarine program on track.”
 

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