MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Gollott, Lee, Cuevas, Woodfield, Stogner

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. DON L. DURHAM FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED AND EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 

WHEREAS, Dr. Don L. Durham is the Technical/Deputy Director of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in this capacity, Dr. Durham serves as the senior civilian manager and top scientific advisor, and is responsible for Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command planning, coordination, management, direction and administration of diverse, broad and multi-disciplinary scientific, engineering and technical programs; and

WHEREAS, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command employs over 3,000 people at over 60 locations worldwide and has a yearly budget of over $250 Million that supports two Major Productions Centers, four Regional/Theater Centers and over 50 worldwide Facilities and Detachments, a fleet of eight globally dispersed multi-purpose oceanographic survey ships and actual engagement in over 40 international oceanographic agreements; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Don L. Durham was instrumental in bringing the most fully integrated, modern computer systems in the U.S. Navy to Stennis Space Center, spearheading an initiative to bring the Department of Defense's massive High Performance Computing (HPC) Major Shared Resource Center (MSRC) to Stennis Space Center; and

WHEREAS, this Major Shared Resource Center, fully established in October 1994, is one of only four such sites in the United States and includes tens of millions of dollars in equipment and operating funds; and

WHEREAS, by installing low-cost, high-speed Local Area Networks (LAN's) that interface with every type of computer in use at the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Dr. Don L. Durham has greatly improved the speed, flow and volume of data, products and management information and vastly increased the responsiveness and connectivity to the Command's customers; and

WHEREAS, because of Dr. Don L. Durham's efforts in improving meteorology and oceanography computer models, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command currently has the national centers of expertise for determining global sea surface temperatures (used extensively for weather forecasting by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the international weather community) and sea ice analysis and forecasts; and

WHEREAS, through persistent high-level contacts and with the pressure of falling resources, Dr. Don L. Durham has led the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command to expand collaboration and enter into developmental partnerships with those with like interests, resulting in many millions of dollars in savings to the U.S. Navy; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Don L. Durham was the driving force behind the establishment of the Center of Higher Learning at Stennis Space Center, a consortium of three universities and one community college that provides post-graduate degree programs to the employees of Stennis Space Center, one-third of whom are U.S. Navy employees; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his visionary abilities, expert leadership, exemplary accomplishments and his lasting, positive impact on U.S. defense capabilities, Dr. Don L. Durham was recently awarded the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Department of Defense's highest civilian award; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the stellar contributions of such outstanding citizens as Dr. Don L. Durham:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dr. Don L. Durham for his distinguished and extraordinary service to the United States Navy and the Department of Defense.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Don L. Durham and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.