Coastal Brothers and Sisters: Back in the Senate Saddle

I last wrote as I finished up my year long appointment / fellowship at the State Department and prepared to return to work for Senator Nelson as his Military Legislative Assistant (MLA). I finished up a few State items, attending the premier of “Salaam Neighbor” a film made by the makers of “Living on One”. Two great movies by young documentary makers, about living in poverty in South America and living in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. I also took the Foreign Service Officer assessment, which I passed, but would not make use of as I transitioned back to Capitol Hill.

As MLA my main focus is on BN’s work on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). SASC overseas Pentagon activities and leadership appointees and “authorizes” military activity for each year (the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee “appropriates” – pays for – those authorized activities. As you might imagine, there are a few skirmishes to be fought when these priorities clash). The huge yearly authorization bill is called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A large percentage of all meetings I take on behalf of BN over the year is people trying to influence the NDAA, reaching about 100% in NDAA season, which starts in March, right when I came back onboard the staff.

The committee finishes the “Chairman’s Draft” of the bill around April/May. The personnel staff of committee member Senators then have about five days to read it in its entirety and submit amendments – things that the committee staff didn’t put in or changes the Senators want made. So, May was a busy month in the office. We did alright, getting a few more Florida-centric items in the bill, and won a pretty big concession from the Republican side with some accompanying language warning about the national security threat that sea level rise poses on military installations, especially in Florida. We were unsuccessful in extending the offshore drilling ban to protect operations in the Eglin Test and Training Range (among other reasons) but would continue to fight that during the year.

Meeting with Floridians in BN's office

I would enjoy this year in the Senate with minimal outside distractions. I completed staff delegations to Florida twice where I saw to see the Air Force Rescue Squadron in Melbourne as well as the Florida National Guard Headquarters in Jacksonville. I went to Cape Canaveral and visited all of our space companies there and cruised out to watch a Ohio-class submarine make a test fire of their ballistic missile. I got to travel out to Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, in which I saw a few old Navy friends riding around the fleet in a helicopter – as a passenger, which I hate! I also went on a Meet the Navy day in Norfolk, which may seem redundant for me (it was) but I got to take Carla, our Legislative Director (and my supervisor), and she had a great time and it helped our relationship in talking military to a non-military person.

Carla my LD in an MH-60S

Waiting on a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral

John and Margaret Dalton continued to be good to me, though it did cost an errand or two. I continued to go to the men’s group with John Dalton a couple times a month at Cedars. I also attended the “Caribou Wallow” with him, which is actually kind of indescribable. Basically, a fancy – and wild – Elks Club meeting. I also escorted Margaret at the Naval Academy as John was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. I also hob-nobbed with some very fancy and high-ranking officials at a couple of events at the Decatur House across the street from the White House. Commodore Decatur was probably the most powerful Naval Officer of his time, not because he outranked everyone, but because of his house’s proximity to the President.

I tried to get my culture on as well, making the most of a membership at the Kennedy Center where I saw “Merchant of Venice”, “Wicked”, and “Phantom of the Opera.” I also took in “Messiah” at the National Cathedral. And of course, Glory and I made the most of a summer in walking distance of Nationals Park with many “Pups in the Park” afternoons. I networked through associations like the Truman National Security Project, Council on Foreign Relations (professionally) and the Florida State Society (socially). Mack came in for a visit for the “Taste of the South” party, a very popular and fancy display of all the southern state societies. I also attended the Navy Ball as a civilian which was interesting but fun to be with all of my MLA colleagues to take in the ceremonies.

Other visitors were Dad for his judicial cyber security committee meeting and Mom and Lea just after the inauguration for the Women’s March. I got to go home a few times in the year, celebrating August at Portofino (where I met Dale Murphy. witnessed Peter’s amazing Ninja Turtle Rod catch and enjoyed Lucy’s I’m a piece of work sketch) and BMX-ing for Peter’s birthday in Orlando. I also enjoyed a nice drive from DC to Orlando with the Elliott’s, including Pax and Glory. I made one other pleasure trip to Hawaii to attend cousin Troy’s wedding, which was a very nice and relaxing week on Maui.

After Peter's Amazing Catch

Meeting Atlanta Brave great Dale Murphy at a Blue Wahoos game

Women's March

As the Mom Year (March to March) closed, my life started getting a busy as it ever was. In 2016 I was selected for command of HSC-85 in San Diego. I would start drilling there instead of Norfolk in the summer of 2016 which was difficult. Most of my drill periods including training to be a Commanding Officer, including Aviation Commanding Officer Training in Pensacola in October. I became Executive Officer in January 2017 as I began a difficult year of traveling back and forth to San Diego while getting ready to be mobilized for deployment once again.