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NAVYLEAGUEFall 2005 · Number 1 MADRID COUNCIL Eduardo Aguirre Jr. U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra NAVYLEAGUE MADRID COUNCIL NAVY LEAGUE OF MADRID. ESTABLISHED 1965 OFFICERS 2005-2006 HONORARY PRESIDENT President’s Message H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre Jr. 4 PRESIDENT 5 COVER STORY Thomas B. Denegre III US Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre Jr. VICE PRESIDENT FEATURES Scott Cochrane 9 Admiral General Francisco Torrente Sánchez, Director General for SECRETARY Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense, Spain Eva García Captain Kevin Little, USN, Defense and Naval Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Madrid TREASURER Stewart Cusden SPECIAL REPORTS MASTER-AT-ARMS 12 200th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar Loic Colodrón NLUS Award: Graduation Ceremony at the Naval Academy in Marín JUDGE ADVOCATE Alexander Grant TALK OF THE TOWN 14 The May Cocktail DIRECTORS The Gala Ball Michael Curry Cynthia Dillon PERSPECTIVES James Dodson 17 The Role of the Naval Forces in the Fight Against Terrorism Luis Fernández de Mesa By Rafael Ortega González James Levy ADVISERS DEFENDING FREEDOM James Francés 19 In His Own Words: George Hall Commander John L. Rigge, RN, O.B.E. George Mahl Dan Lowell GUEST SPEAKERS 24 Mr. José Bono, Minister of Defense, Spain. Admiral General Sebastián The Magazine NAVY LEAGUE Zaragoza Soto, Naval Chief of Staff, Spanish Armada. Lt. Commander Spencer Abbot, USN. Mr. José Luis Requero Ibañez. Madrid Council Admiral Robert J. Natter, USN. (ret.) Rear Admiral José Antonio González Carrión. Captain Nigel Dedman, R.N., British Defense EDITOR/PUBLISHER Attaché. Mr. Andrew Hazell. Cynthia Dillon www.dillonhillas-dillon.com [email protected] MEMBERSHIP REPORT 28 By George Mahl ADVISER Barbara Hillas 30 TRIVIA GRAPHIC DESIGN/PRINTING NAUTICIAS... FROM OTHER COUNCILS IN SPAIN Javier de la Hoz · Gema Alberto Grupomundoprint, S.L. 31 HISTORY www.grupomundoprint.com IN THE ARTS 34 María Carretero’s “La Nave de los Conquistadores” Sculptor and Landscape Designer Depósito Legal: M-41681-2005 Cover photograph by Carlos Ferro President’s Message t is with great pleasure and no small ty. We are still thanking the Embassy's amount of trepidation that I take the DCM, Bob Manzanares and his wife, Mar- Ihelm as your new President. Both veen for the wonderful evening at their James Francés and Joan Eischen have con- extraordinary garden this year. sistently raised the bar for those that fol- low, and our Council is all the better for it. We have just returned from the graduating ceremonies at the Spanish Naval Academy Since joining the Navy League five years in Marín. This year's recipient of the Navy ago I have seen us go through a bit of a League award to visit Annapolis and the wrenching as we struggled to find a new Norfolk Naval Operations is Cadet Rafael “rumbo”, and define just what we wanted Arias Ocejo who is first in his graduating from our Madrid Council. class. He received his diploma from HRH Prince of Asturias and Scott, Eva and I were Joan’s call for more Volunteers as commit- there to present him with the Navy tee heads or Board members is still very League's ceremonial sword. In September, appropriate. I would hope you all agree members of your Board visited Menorca to that 2005 to date has delighted us with pay tribute to Admiral David Farragut's speakers of the highest caliber that we have statue and the American sailors' cemetery. NL President Thomas B. Denegre seen in quite a while. Your suggestions for New members should know that the statue III, grew up in the Navy as the prospective speakers in order to maintain was erected by the Madrid Council in 1970. son of a now retired Captain. He this high standard, are needed. attended the University of Virginia Please join us in our continuing endeavor with a NROTC scholarship gradu- Membership Membership Membership to make our Madrid Council an ever more ating with a commission as an Bringing interesting speakers, our own important activity in our business and Ensign in 1966, and a degree in wish to meet and come to know better social agendas. If we all pull together we International Relations. He was on those with common interests (dare I say will definitely arrive at the port of our active duty in Submarine Service for four years and five years in “business?”) are key elements to adding choice. Naval Reserve. Mr. Denegre left new members. But more importantly is the Navy having attained the rank your introduction of new prospects. Since Thank you, again. of Lieutenant Commander. Since you know who they are, help us contact With best regards 1970 he has been in private busi- them, or bring them as first time guests. ness. In Madrid he owns and runs Prospective members always can attend the Thomas B. Denegre III Rental Spain, S.L. dinners at no charge so all you need to do is extend an invitation to them. www.rentalspain.com Your corporation’s Sponsorship and Advertising in the newly revamped Navy Special thanks to our advertisers: League Magazine, and in the Council • Lockheed Martin Directory, are the primary means by • Indra which we can provide you and your com- pany with greater exposure and help cement ties with the Spanish Armada. I have never met anyone who was blasé about becoming a member after attending our Gala Ball where we had an America’s Cup Yacht full of the “ top ranking Admi- rals and Generals”; or, the only slightly less formal gathering at our May Cocktail Par- 4 NAVY LEAGUE Fall 2005 COVER STORY Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre Jr. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN AND ANDORRA By C. Dillon E. Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre Jr. recently arrived in Madrid as Hthe newly appointed Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra. He presented his credentials to His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain on June 29th, 2005. At NL President Thomas Denegre's invitation, Ambassador Aguirre generously agreed to share with us his experiences for the inaugural issue of the updated and redesigned Navy League magazine. He and his wife María Teresa (née Peralta) cordial- ly received the author at their residence on August 2nd, 2005. For Ambassador Aguirre, the United States, “a nation of immigrants and with a history shaped by the phenomenon of In gratitude for what he believes is great equalizer, that cuts across ethnicity, immigration,” welcomed both him and his America’s “generous spirit” and an “exam- sex, national origin, and socio-economic wife María Teresa as youngsters from their ple to follow” Ambassador Aguirre accept- status.” native Cuba. In his own words, “he was ed then Governor George W. Bush’s Ambassador Aguirre spent most of his helped by the generosity of Catholic Chari- appointment to serve six years on the life in banking. He worked twenty-four ties, the American people and the United Board of Regents of the University of years for the Bank of America, where he Way.” He considers himself to be “eternally Houston System in Texas, two of which he started out as a “teller” while attending grateful to the United States for welcoming served as Chairman. This volunteer a 15 year old youngster who, removed from appointment ensured that Ambassador his native soil but with a good and solid Aguirre would provide direction to a four- childhood, had to adjust and adapt to the university system and its approximately culture, weather, food and language” of a 50,000-student body. This exposure to new country. Ambassador Aguirre consid- academia, allowed him “to understand the ers education the “key to opportunity peculiarities and importance of the envi- which helped [him] reach [his] full poten- ronment for a youngster to blossom.” In tial”,which is demonstrated by his very rich 2005 Ambassador Aguirre gave the com- and varied professional life. He first went to mencement speech to the University of the state of Louisiana where he graduated Connecticut Class of 2005. There he spoke from Louisiana State University in the of “the importance to serve others, to give 1960’s with a Bachelor of Science degree. As back, to become responsible “-gate keep- recently as last year, his alma mater’s Col- ers-” who intercede on behalf of those who lege of Business Administration inducted deserve a break or at times, a second him in its Hall of Distinction and the Inter- chance.” In fact Ambassador Aguirre was national Business Fraternity of Delta Sigma adamant that “what is important to Pi awarded him its Lifetime Achievement remember is those who helped [us]...[they Award. He is the recipient of Honorary are] not always… people with big titles, Doctorate Degrees from the University of but family, teachers, friends…” Emphati- Houston, the Universidad de Santiago de cally, he told the graduating class that “one los Caballeros, República Dominicana, and of the key elements that made all of this the University of Connecticut. possible has been [my education], the Fall 2005 NAVY LEAGUE 5 COVER STORY Americans living here... an all-encompass- ing mission.” Ambassador Aguirre’s federal govern- ment career began in 2001 when he was appointed by President Bush as acting chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (www.exim.gov). Ex-Im Bank, as it is popularly known, is an independent U.S. government agency that helps finance the sale of U.S. exports primarily to emerg- ing markets throughout the world by pro- viding loans, guarantees, and export credit insurance. There he served as vice chairman and chief operating officer, guiding the Ex- Im Bank through a Congressional reautho- rization and shaping the bank into a more customer service and results-oriented organization.