Senate Resolution 5

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DR. DONALD L. DURHAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE STENNIS SPACE CENTER NAVAL METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY COMMAND, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE.

WHEREAS, Dr. Donald L. Durham, as the Technical/Deputy Director of the Stennis Space Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, is the senior civilian manager and top scientific advisor responsible for planning, coordination, management, direction and administration of broad multidisciplinary scientific, engineering and technical programs of the command; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Durham's long and distinguished public service is a matter of record: a native of McKinney, Kentucky; graduate of Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics; Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography, Texas A&M University and Master of Science in Oceanography; came to Mississippi in 1972 to work for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experiment Station; came to Stennis Space Center in 1978 as an Oceanographer with Naval Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Laboratory; named Technical/Deputy Director in 1989; received the U.S. Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive for 1998; received the Outstanding Contributions to Science Award from the Mississippi Academy of Sciences in 1998; received the Department of Defense Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award; was Vice Chair of the Mississippi Science and Technology Commission (sunset in 1996); member of External Research Advisory Council, Mississippi State University; member of the Mississippi Special Task Force for Economic Development Planning (1996-2000); and founding board member of the Mississippi Technology Alliance and current chair of the board's executive committee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Durham has supported all levels of education in Mississippi, including funding and participating in the following programs: Project Marco Polo, which provides an opportunity for high school students and teachers to carry out oceanographic survey activities aboard a naval ship; Operation Pathfinder, a two-week workshop held in Biloxi for kindergarten-through-high school teachers emphasizing marine biology, physical oceanography and estuary ecosystems; Ocean Voyage, which provides an opportunity for eight middle school science teachers to spend a week aboard an oceanographic survey ship; Stimulating Teachers About Resources for Broad Oceanographic Research Delivery (STARBOARD), which features high school student and teacher research partnerships using visualization processes and modeling techniques depicting oceanographic data; Maury Project, which provides oceanographic survey activities for kindergarten-through-high school teachers aboard a naval research ship; JASON Project, which features earth and marine science live interactive field trip broadcasts for upper elementary and middle school students in Biloxi, Clarksdale and Jackson for two weeks during the year; Natural Partners, a partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, to provide "museum without walls" distance learning opportunities; Oceans Alive, a program that begins this summer, will provide oceanographic activities for three high school students and one teacher aboard one of our survey ships in the Mississippi Sound; Personal Excellence Partnerships, partnerships between the command and a school designed to improve the school's effectiveness by working to improve education, implement staff development and improve the physical appearance of the campus. Through the partnerships, the Navy has relationships with 47 schools in Mississippi and southeast Louisiana; Ocean Science Mentoring Program, a partnership of the Naval Research, Arlington, VA, the Naval Recruiting Command, Millington, TN, Naval Oceanographic Office and The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Stennis Space Center that pairs researchers with students from Coahoma Community College to conduct ocean-related research. Scholarships from the program were awarded to nine Coahoma CC students in 2001; Center of Higher Learning, a Policy Board member and sponsor of this state-supported, world-class center which tailors area university programs to meet the needs of Stennis Space Center resident agencies; SECNAV Engineering and Science Residential Program, a six-week Secretary of the Navy program, coordinated by the Center of Higher Learning and bringing a select group of high school rising seniors to experience ocean science at agencies along the Gulf Coast; Graduate Degree Program in Hydrographic Science, in collaboration with the University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Marine Science and the Center of Higher Learning, the one-year degree educates students in the theory and state-of-the-art practice of hydrographic surveying, geodesy, data processing and analysis, and data management; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the long and dedicated service of this public servant who has adopted Mississippi as his home state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Dr. Donald L. Durham, Deputy Director of the Stennis Space Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, upon the occasion of his retirement after 30 years of dedicated public service, and extend the best wishes of the Senate to him and his family for continued success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Durham, be forwarded to the Director of the Stennis Space Center and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.