Jon Tester: “I rise today to recognize CAPT William C. Pennington for his exemplary dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Navy…”

“I rise today to recognize CAPT William C. Pennington for his exemplary dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Navy and to the United States of America. I have personally gotten to know Captain Pennington, or ``BP,'' over the past 3 years, while he served as the director of the Navy and Marine Corps Congressional Appropriations Matters Office. Captain Pennington was born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Dallas, TX. He began his Navy service in 1992 as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was the captain of the men's varsity track and field team, and earned his bachelors of science degree in weapons and systems engineering. In 1996, he was commissioned as a naval officer from the U.S. Naval Academy and was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC, (PERS 43) until he began flight training in Pensacola, FL, in 1997. A career maritime patrol aviator, BP has valiantly served all over the world on behalf of our Nation. Throughout his 28 years of service he has completed operational tours in Kaneohe Bay, HI, with Patrol Squadron FOUR (VP-4), in Whidbey Island, WA, with Patrol Squadron FORTY (VP-40), and in Jacksonville, FL, where he commanded the ``War Eagles'' of Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN (VP-16). While in command, he led his crew on the Navy's first-ever P-8A Poseidon deployment. Additionally, at sea, he served as the Japan and China Pol-Mil/Exercise Office on the staff of Commander, U.S.…”