SLS 18RS-899 ORIGINAL 2018 Regular Session SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 20 BY SENATOR ALARIO COMMENDATIONS. Commends Commander Gregory Reed Koepp II for his outstanding naval career and upon his service as commanding officer of the USS Colorado. 1 A RESOLUTION 2 To commend Commander Gregory Reed Koepp II of the United States Navy on his 3 outstanding naval career and upon his service as the commanding officer of the 4 soon-to-be, newly commissioned USS Colorado. 5 WHEREAS, the USS Colorado (SSN-788), the most modern attack submarine of its 6 kind, is a flexible, multi-mission vessel with a unique range of operational capabilities that 7 include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine warfare, strike warfare, irregular 8 warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and the delivery of Special Operations 9 Forces; and 10 WHEREAS, the fifteenth in the Virginia-class series to join the naval fleet, the USS 11 Colorado can operate close to shore as well as in deep ocean environs; through extensive 12 modifications of modular construction, open architecture, and adaptable technical 13 components, the Virginia-class design remains at the acme of efficiency through the rapid 14 introduction of newly applied technologies; and 15 WHEREAS, the fourth naval vessel to bear its name, the USS Colorado upholds a 16 proud legacy of military service; the commissioning ceremonies will occur on Saturday, 17 March 17, 2018, at the United States Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, 18 Connecticut; and Page 1 of 3 SLS 18RS-899 ORIGINAL SR NO. 20 1 WHEREAS, at its helm will be Commander Reed Koepp, a career naval officer with 2 seventeen years of extraordinary military service to his credit; and 3 WHEREAS, Commander Koepp, a native of Picayune, Mississippi, and a graduate 4 of Louisiana State University with a bachelor of science degree in physics, received his 5 commission as a U. S. Navy Ensign upon completion of the Nuclear Propulsion Officer 6 Candidate program and began his active duty service; and 7 WHEREAS, Commander Koepp also completed a master's degree in engineering 8 management from Old Dominion University and acquired additional military credentials in 9 Joint Professional Military Education from the Air Command and Staff College, nuclear 10 power training, and advanced submarine officer training; and 11 WHEREAS, he served as division officer in engineering and tactics while completing 12 four strategic deterrent patrols onboard the USS Tennessee, as nuclear training and 13 accessions officer at Commander Navy Recruiting Command; as navigation and operations 14 officer onboard the USS Virginia when the ship was deployed to the European Command 15 and African Command Areas of Responsibility where Commander Koepp was twice 16 awarded the Battle Efficiency Ribbon; as squadron operations officer to Commander 17 Submarine Squadron Four, as executive officer onboard the USS Buffalo; and as executive 18 officer to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina; and 19 WHEREAS, assigned to numerous duty stations and deployments around the world, 20 both ashore and aboard ship, Commander Koepp has amassed a plethora of empirical 21 knowledge, exceptional experience, and leadership skills that are above reproach; and 22 WHEREAS, on November 3, 2017, during a change of command ceremony, 23 Commander Reed Koepp became the commanding officer of the PCU Colorado (SSN-788); 24 and 25 WHEREAS, the USS Colorado, under the competent control of Commander Reed 26 Koepp, establishes a combat-ready presence, maintains international peace and security, and 27 provides a steadfast reminder of the far-reaching supremacy of the United States Navy. 28 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 29 does hereby commend U. S. Navy Commander Gregory Reed Koepp II on his outstanding 30 naval career and upon his service as the commanding officer of the USS Colorado and on Page 2 of 3 SLS 18RS-899 ORIGINAL SR NO. 20 1 his faithful military service to the state and nation. 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does 3 hereby extend thanks and Godspeed to Commander Gregory Reed Koepp with continued 4 success in all future endeavors. 5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 6 Commander Gregory Reed Koepp II Commanding Officer, USS Colorado. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague. DIGEST SR 20 Original 2018 Regular Session Alario Commends Commander Gregory Reed Koepp II, USN, for his outstanding naval career and upon his service as commanding officer of the USS Colorado. Page 3 of 3.