HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1998-085 I
RESOLUTION NO. 86-98
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA,
IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONING OF THE USS
HIGGINS IN PORT EVERGLADES ON APRIL 24, 1999,
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Dania has the only active Navy base in Broward
County.
WHEREAS, the U.S. Navy is a partner in Florida Atlantic
University's Institute for Ocean and Systems Engineering at SeaTech,
located at Dania beach.
WHEREAS, the ship's namesake Colonel William Richard Higgins'
wife, Lt. Colonel Robin Higgins, resides in Florida.
WHEREAS, commissioning the USS Higgins in Broward County
will give all of us an opportunity to honor Colonel Higgins for giving his life
1 for the protection of our freedom.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA;
Section 1. That the City Commission of the City of Dania,
individually and on behalf of all the citizens of the city, do hereby
recognize the commissioning of the USS Higgins into the United States
Navy on April 24, 1999.
Section 2: That the City Commission of the City of Dania
individually and on behalf of all the citizens of the city, do hereby honor
Colonel William Richard Higgins as the ship's namesake and for giving his
life for the protection of our freedom.
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Section 3. That this resolution shall be in force and take effect
immediately upon its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on the 26'h day of May, 1998.
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MAYOR-COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
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DITOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
CITY ATT RNE
2 RESOLUTION NO. 85-98
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April 29th, 1998
Precommissioning Unit HIGGINS (DDG 76)
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COMMISSIONING PORT VISIT & COORDINATION
Fort Lauderdale, FL
j Precommissioning Unit
HIGGINS
CDR James L.T. "Red" Smith, USN
Commanding Officer
LCDR Francis X. Martin, USN
Executive Officer
Raw LT Eric H. Ver Hage, USN
Ship's Commissioning Coordinator
Mr. Joe Hanna
Commissioning Facilitator
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y JAMES L. I SMITH, COMMANDER
UNITED STATES NAVY
Commander James L.T."Red" Smith was born
in Chicago, Illinois in 1956. He graduated from the
College of William and Mary in 1978 and was --
commissioned through OCS in 1979.
At sea Commander Smith served initially in USS
DAVID R RAY (DD 971) as Auxiliaries & Electrical
Officer and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, making
two Western Pacific / Indian Ocean / Arabian Gulf
deployments. Subsequently, he graduated with
distinction from Surface Warfare Officers School
(Department Head Course)and was assigned as Combat
Systems Officer in USS THACH (FFG 43). This tour
included deployment to Middle East Force,the conduct
of numerous EARNEST WILL Escort Operations and j
participation in NIMBLE ARCHER. Commander Smith
then completed AEGIS training and served as Combat
Systems Officer in USS VINCENNES (CG 49),conducting a Western Pacific/Indian Ocean
deployment as battlegroup AW. Commander Smith served as Executive Officer in USS
PRINCETON (CG 59) a tour which included a Central/South American counternarcotics
deployment. Commander Smith is the Prospective Commanding Officer of USS HIGGINS
(DDG 76), an Arleigh Burke class destroyer building at Bath,Maine.
Ashore Commander Smith has served as an instructor at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare
Training Center Pacific and FLAG LT to Commander Training Command U.S. Pacific Fleet.
In Washington,he served on the OPNAV staff(N523)as a Pol-Mil advisor for South America.
He recently completed an assignment as Strategic Planner on the Joint Staff(J-5).
Commander Smith is a distinguished graduate from The Fletcher School of Law and
Diplomacy and is a proven subspecialist in National Security Affairs. He is also a graduate of
i the Armed Forces Staff College. He was a Federal Executive Fellow at the Atlantic Council
of the United States.
Commander Smith's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy
i Commendation Medal(four),Navy Achievement Medal(two).
Commander Smith and his wife Meg have two children;Andrew(6)and Julia(3).
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