Norton Congratulates Eastern Senior High School Grad for Taking Command of Navy’s Pacific Fleet

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that Admiral Cecil D. Haney, a native Washingtonian and graduate of Eastern Senior High School and the U.S. Naval Academy, has been promoted to four-star admiral and has taken command of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, the world's largest fleet. The change of command ceremony took place Friday morning in Hawaii. Admiral Haney is only the second African-American Naval Officer to be promoted to four-star admiral, the highest non-wartime rank in the Navy. The first was also a District native and graduate of D.C. public schools, Admiral J. Paul Reason, who attended McKinley Technology High School before graduating from the Naval Academy and eventually becoming a four-star admiral and Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet from 1996-1999. Prior to his promotion, Admiral Haney was the deputy commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

"Every District resident, I am sure, joins me in congratulating Admiral Haney for his service to our country and on his promotion to the top command," Norton said. "We could have no better role model for DCPS and public charter school students on what they can achieve with hard work, education and perseverance."

As Commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, Admiral Haney is charged with protecting and defending the collective maritime interests of the United States, its allies and its partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Haney's decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign and unit awards. In addition, he was the 1998 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award recipient.

Norton and Commander Kerwin Miller (USN Retired), the chair of Norton's Service Academy Nominations Board, will encourage D.C. students to apply to the service academies by highlighting Admiral Haney's roots in the District and in D.C. public schools. Each year, as a member of Congress, Norton nominates high school students from D.C. public, public charter and private high schools to four military service academies. Successful candidates, 17 to 23 years of age, receive a free college education and remain in the military for at least five years after graduation. For more information on service academy nominations, visit Norton's website: https://www.norton.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215&Itemid=109.

Published: January 23, 2012