MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Cuevas, Dawkins, Gollott, Hewes, Harvey, Moffatt, Robertson, Hyde-Smith, Thames, Chaney
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY/INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS (OCEANS '02) FOR HIGHLIGHTING SOUTH MISSISSIPPI'S GROWING OCEANOGRAPHY AND ENGINEERING COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, the Oceans '02 Conference, the annual conference of the Marine Technology Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (MTS/IEEE), held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, focused attention on South Mississippi's burgeoning oceanography and ocean engineering community; and
WHEREAS, it attracted more than 2,200 visitors from around the world, and it featured 193 exhibit booths, representing about 160 government agencies, private companies and academic institutions, and contributed $2 Million to the local economy. The exhibits displayed the latest developments in ocean equipment from some of the leading companies in the field; and
WHEREAS, the two honorary cochairs of the event, Rear Admiral Thomas Q. Donaldson V, and Herbert W. Anderson, represented that Mississippi oceanography and ocean engineering connection; and
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Donaldson is the Commander of the Stennis Space Center-based Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, an operational Navy command and the lynchpin of Mississippi's ocean technology and research cluster, based at Stennis Space Center. Admiral Donaldson was selected Rear Admiral in February 2000 and took command of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command in November 2000. In April 2001, he was designated Hydrographer of the Navy by the Chief of Naval Operations, representing the United States' naval interest internationally; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Herbert Anderson is Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman Information Technology, a premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. Northrop Grumman, the largest employer in Mississippi, owns the former Ingalls Shipbuilding and manages one of the world's most powerful supercomputers at the Naval Oceanographic Office based at Stennis Space Center; and
WHEREAS, one of the conference's speakers was Dr. Philip Dur, President of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, who said he sees the Mississippi Gulf Coast becoming a major player in the community of ocean science and technology; and
WHEREAS, Governor Ronnie Musgrove stated that the Mississippi Gulf Coast's economy has evolved from its heritage of fishing and tourism to include exploding advancements in ocean science, technologies and space exploration; and
WHEREAS, the conference also featured an address from U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, who talked about the work of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, which will report on the tremendous capability of the Stennis Space Center to be integral to any recommended national strategy; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize that the Mississippi Gulf Coast is on the cutting edge of advancements in ocean science and technologies:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Annual Conference of the Marine Technology Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, named "Oceans '02," for highlighting South Mississippi's growing oceanography and ocean engineering community, and extend the greetings and best wishes of the Legislature on future conferences focusing on this industry.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Rear Admiral Donaldson and Mr. Herbert Anderson, and be made available to the Sun Herald and the Capitol Press Corps.