J. Exon: “Mr. President, the Senate has now before it President Clinton's nomination of Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, U.S. Navy, to…”

“Mr. President, the Senate has now before it President Clinton's nomination of Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, U.S. Navy, to retire in grade as a four-star admiral. That nomination was reported favorably by the Armed Services Committee by a vote of 20-2. Admiral Kelso is completing 38 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Navy, of which 14 years have been as a flag officer and last 8 of which have been in the four-star grade. Over the last 9 years, Admiral Kelso has served as Commander, 6th Fleet; as Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, in his NATO hat and Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command in his U.S. hat. When he served as Commander, 6th Fleet, forces under Admiral Kelso's command forced down the aircraft carrying terrorists who murdered an American citizen on board the Achille Lauro. In that position, Admiral Kelso commanded the U.S. forces which responded to Libyan armed aggression in the Gulf of Sidra and also commanded the joint air strike on Libya itself in retaliation for Libyan terrorism against United States servicemen in Germany. When he served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Admiral Kelso led the way in planning and executing the integration of women in combat logistic force ships.”