MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Bell (65th)

House Concurrent Resolution 54

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING FORMER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, RESIDENT AND LANIER HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNUS, ZEITA MERCHANT, UPON BEING PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.

     WHEREAS, Lanier High School alumnus and Jacksonian, by way of Chicago, Illinois, Zeita Merchant, has made quite the splash in the inter-coastal waters of the United States and the international waters of the world, having recently been tapped to become the third African-American woman in the history of the United States Coast Guard to be promoted to the rank of Captain; and

     WHEREAS, born in Chicago, and raised in Jackson, Merchant's first level of postsecondary matriculation occurred at Tougaloo College, where she joined the United States Coast Guard through the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative in 1997, before graduating as an honors' student with a bachelor's degree in biology the following year, and thereafter commencing a career with the United States Coast Guard as a graduate of the first Officer Candidate School class at the Coast Guard Academy, a career that has now spanned more than 22 years of active duty service; and

     WHEREAS, prior to her promotion to Captain, Merchant's zealous determination to succeed positioned her to become the embodiment of leadership and exude exceptional character through an extraordinary desire to serve those she leads, in her Marine Safety Unit, her community and the entire maritime industry, by motivating and inspiring those around her to acknowledge one another's values and to perform with a spirit of excellence in every capacity of service; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to her baccalaureate degree, Captain Merchant's penchant for the acquisition of knowledge compelled her to undergo postgraduate studies, to attain a master of science in biology from Tougaloo College, a master of science in quality systems management from the National Graduate School, a master of arts in public administration from George Washington University, and a doctoral degree in business administration from George Washington University, as well as a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Executive Education Leadership in Homeland Security Course, in addition to having served as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI National Security and Foreign Affairs Fellow; and

     WHEREAS, currently assigned to Harvard University where she serves as a National Security Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Captain Merchant's ascension up the ranks of the United States Coast Guard has not been a fairy tale, but it has been consistently decorated with the highlights garnered through her sheer tenacity to serve in excellence with humility; and

     WHEREAS, prior to her promotion as Captain, Merchant, who is also one of only 30 designated Type 1 Incident Commanders active with the Coast Guard, served as commanding officer of Marine Safety Unit Chicago, becoming the first African-American female and first female Coast Guard officer to command a marine safety unit, as well as the first female to command a marine safety unit in the Great Lakes; and

     WHEREAS, intrepid in all of her pursuits, Captain Merchant's list of prior assignments include:  Supervisor, Port of Miami Field Office and Chief of Port Operations at United States Coast Guard Sector Miami; Executive Planner to the Coast Guard Flag and Senior Executive Services at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Marine Inspector and Port Operations Officer at Marine Safety Office, New Orleans, Louisiana; Executive Officer of Marine Safety Unit Texas City, Texas; Deputy Federal On-Scene Coordinator during the Texas City "Y" Spill response operation; Congressional Fellow; and Special Assistant to the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to her impressive proficiency as an operator, Captain Merchant makes it a point to lead by giving back to the community from which she came, serving as a "boots on the ground" board member of such organizations as:  BUILD Chicago, a nonprofit organization focusing on gang intervention in some of Chicago's neighborhoods; the RIPPLE Institute, Inc.; the Executive Boards of the National Council of Negro Women's (NCNW) Women of Defense and the National Association of African Americans in the Department of Homeland Security (NAADHS); the Congressional Black Caucus; the National Society of Black Engineers; and the Coast Guard Commandant's Diversity Advisory Council; and

     WHEREAS, to compliment her extensive service to this country and all of its citizens, Captain Merchant has a robust repertoire of honors and recognitions to her credit as well, including:  the 2017 Captain David H. Jarvis Inspirational Leadership Award by the Navy League; 2014 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Professional Achievement in Government Award; 2011 BEYA STEM K-12 Promotion of Education Award; 2010 Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends HBCU Trailblazer Award; 2010 Coast Guard Award for Excellence in Diversity; Meritorious Service Medal; two Coast Guard Commendation Medals; three Coast Guard Achievement Medals; two Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals; and four Commandant's Letter of Commendations; and

     WHEREAS, it is policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence when exhibited by talented individuals who are forever connected to the Magnolia State, such as Captain Merchant, whose dictum is "True leadership is servanthood," capitalizing on Aristotle's quote that "our greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons":

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate former Jackson, Mississippi, resident and Lanier High School alumnus, Zeita Merchant, upon being promoted to the rank of Captain in the United States Coast Guard, and extending best wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the United States Coast Guard Captain Zeita Merchant and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.