By Glenn Sircy, Center for Information Warfare Training
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) piped ashore Cmdr. James Dudley, a native of Satellite Beach, Florida, as he retired from the Navy after 37 years of dedicated and honorable service during a ceremony in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Dec. 9.
Over 120 family members, friends and shipmates attended the ceremony to honor and bid “fair winds and following seas” to Dudley, a Navy cryptologic warfare officer, and his family.
The presiding officer for the ceremony, Navy Capt. Nick Andrews, CIWT commanding officer, commended Dudley for his loyal devotion to the Navy, Sailors, Soldiers and families.
“Through the many changes that have taken place in the Navy during the past 37 years, this outstanding naval officer who we honor here today didn’t just witness change – he was involved in guiding his Soldiers and Sailors through them,” shared Andrews. “James truly loves the military, his shipmates and this great nation!”
Andrews also presented Dudley the Meritorious Service Medal for superior performance as CIWT’s assistant training director and executive officer.
“His leadership and guidance ensured the success of four commands, nine sites and two detachments; with training responsibilities for 10 enlisted ratings, three officer communities, and more than 200 courses delivered to over 24,000 students annually,” added Andrews. “We all know this was no easy task and James was the key person to move the ball forward. Although you are retiring from the Navy, we are extremely excited for you and your family’s next voyage in life, whatever course you decide to sail. Thank you all for your selfless sacrifices over this very successful military journey. Well done.”
Navy Capt. Dom Lovello served as Dudley’s guest speaker.
“I know how fortunate you feel about the opportunities that the Army and Navy have given you, but don't forget how fortunate all of us are because of the opportunities you've given us and the memories we've all made together,” said Lovello. “I want–we want–you to go ashore today knowing in your heart, mind, and soul that you did it right. That you have left our Army and Navy better than you found it. That you have done it with integrity and hard work and to the very best of your ability. That you have been a great leader, teacher, friend, and God's good servant throughout. That you do have the greatest legacy that any leader could ever have - the profound respect of the people you served with and the deep gratitude of the nation you served so faithfully. Above all else, that you have our deepest respect and most heart- felt gratitude for making all of us better technicians, Sailors, and men and women.”
The ceremony also included numerous presentations to Dudley and his family.
A Navy Information Warfare and Cryptology Meritorious Service Award, signed by Vice Adm. Timothy White, commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet, highlighted, “Cmdr. James Dudley served with devotion and honor in a number of cryptologic and information warfare assignments in Bahrain, Hawaii, Japan, Florida, Tennessee, Washington and aboard USS Chosin and USS Blue Ride. His career was distinguished by excellence in leadership, technical acumen, and a deep commitment to the information warfare and cryptologic communities.”
During his remarks, Dudley shared how the Navy offers many great opportunities and how his family and shipmates were the inspiration behind his success.
“As you can tell from my remarks, the truth is, the Navy is just something I did while I lived my life,” said Dudley. “I’m thankful for it, but only within the context of how my naval career gave me the opportunity to meet the best of people, provide for my family and lead the finest men and women this nation has to offer. Any success I’ve had is because I didn’t want to let them down. I’ve never really thought I was particularly talented, but I know what talent is and I made sure I did everything I could to use that talent to get the job done and make myself a better person along the way.”
Of special significance, Dudley also shared, “To my wife Valinda, you alone have borne the brunt of the hardships of a military career. Through it all, you never complained about deployments and most importantly, you never complained about the Navy and the hardships to our girls. You alone have been the catalyst behind any success I have enjoyed in the military and you are the source of every good thing in my life. We have had hard times, and I deeply regret the times that were made harder by my decisions. Because of you, however, we have raised two kind, patriotic young women who, in turn, have married men that we could not be more thankful for and proud of. You did that. I can take no credit for it and I will not pretend today that I could.”
Dudley also individually thanked the numerous friends and shipmates in attendance.
“At this point, I’m just overwhelmed thinking about everyone that I’ve served with and that I’m thankful for,” added Dudley. “With a 37-year career, it is staggering. I’ve loved serving but, the best part has been the people I’ve served and the friends we’ve made.”
The ceremony also included recitation of “The Navy Wife,” a retirement flag folding and presentation and concluded with a recitation of "The Watch.”
Dudley and his family were then piped ashore for the last time by the honors boatswain.
Dudley enlisted in the Army in 1982 and served as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina until 1985. He joined the Navy in 1985, was trained as a cryptologic technician (interpretive) and served as a Russian linguist.
In 1994, he earned the rank of chief petty officer, was commissioned as a cryptologic warfare officer through the limited duty officer (program in 1997, and selected for lateral transfer to become a cryptologic warfare officer in 2005.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of New York and a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is qualified as a naval aircrewman, surface warfare officer, information warfare officer and air warfare coordinator.
Significant afloat and operational assignments include signals warfare officer aboard USS Chosin (CG 65); operations officer and airborne special evaluator at Navy Information Operations Command, Bahrain; intelligence planner at U.S. Central Command, including a 5-month deployment to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan; and fleet cryptologist for U.S. 7th Fleet. Ashore, he served as operations officer at Naval Security Group Activity, Whidbey Island, Washington; information warfare officer detailer and assistant community manager at Naval Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee; executive officer at Naval Information Operations Command, Pensacola, Florida, and various positions at the Center for Information Dominance, now CIWT, Pensacola, Florida.
With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past three years. Training more than 20,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.
For more news from the CIWT domain, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.
Date Taken: | 12.09.2019 |
Date Posted: | 12.10.2019 07:45 |
Story ID: | 354956 |
Location: | PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US |
Web Views: | 474 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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