[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1263-E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE DAUGHERTY MEMORIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER AT THE NAVAL 
                SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, CORONA DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a young 
man who died in

[[Page E1264]]

service to his country and whose name will be forever immortalized at 
the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Corona, California. 
Cryptologic Technician, Technical, Petty Officer First Class Steven P. 
Daugherty is an American hero and I know that the men and women who 
work at NSWC, Corona are honored to have his name grace their new Joint 
Warfare Assessment Laboratory Building. Today, Armed Forces Day, would 
have been Steven's 30th birthday.
  Steven P. Daugherty was born in Apple Valley, California, and was 
killed in action July 6, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, by an improvised 
explosive device (IED). Steven excelled at an early age: he was student 
of the month at Barstow High School and made the honor roll at Barstow 
Community College. After graduating with an associate's degree in 
liberal studies, Steven enlisted in the Navy, where he worked as part 
of an elite Navy SEAL team.
  On that fateful day in July, Petty Officer Steven and his team were 
returning from an important mission when their vehicle struck an IED, 
killing him and the two other members of his unit. According to the 
National Security Agency, the work he and his team performed earlier in 
the day played a decisive role in thwarting a dangerous group of 
insurgents trying to kill coalition forces. Today, across from our 
Nation's Capitol, Steven rests in peace in the sacred ground of 
Arlington National Cemetery.
  Steven was respected by his peers as a professional and dedicated 
cryptologic technician, and his work was vital to the success of 
important combat missions. He was a decorated Sailor, having been 
awarded a Bronze Star (with combat ``V'' for Valor), the Purple Heart, 
a Combat Action Ribbon and other medals and commendations. His name is 
inscribed on National Security Agency's Memorial Wall, ``They Served in 
Silence.'' Steven is also the first formal recipient of the National 
Intelligence Medal for Valor.
  Steven was a loving 28-year-old father to an adoring 5-year-old son; 
a loyal brother to three fellow warfighters--two Airmen and one 
Soldier, Richard, Robert, and Kristine; and a faithful son to his 
parents, Thomas and Lydia.
  Most of all, Steven P. Daugherty was a patriot who gave the full 
measure of devotion defending America's freedom.
  In naming this important building to honor the sacrifice of Petty 
Officer Steven P. Daugherty, the Navy dedicates to him the latest 
addition to the Nation's premiere Joint Warfare Assessment Laboratory 
at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division. The Daugherty 
Memorial Assessment Center will stand as an ever-present reminder of 
Steven--and to every Sailor, Marine, Soldier, and Airman who has given 
their life in defense of this country. This dedication also 
commemorates the groundbreaking work NSWC, Corona is doing to support 
the Joint IED Defeat Organization in its mission to combat the threat 
of IEDs against our Armed Forces.
  In addition to supporting needed counter-IED efforts, the Daugherty 
Memorial Assessment Center greatly enhances NSWC Corona's ability to 
support key national missions. NSWC, Corona will provide Strike Group 
interoperability assessment needed to certify ships for deployment; 
provide critical flight analysis for all Navy surface missile systems; 
provide performance assessment of Aegis and Aegis Ballistic Missile 
Defense ships throughout their entire lifecycle; and finally, NSWC, 
Corona will centralize, process, and distribute the Navy's combat and 
weapon system data on one of the largest classified networks in the 
Department of Defense.
  The Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center is a state-of-the-art 
analysis and assessment asset that gives the Nation extensive 
capability to protect our Armed Forces, our country, and our freedom. 
May the new Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center serve as a reminder to 
the men and women who carry out the mission of NSWC, Corona how very 
important their work is to our troops. And may we pledge to always 
remember Steven P. Daugherty; the goodness he brought to our world and 
the sacrifice he has made will never be forgotten.