His humility was apparent as he blushed on the talk about his physical appearance. “My wife really takes good care of me. I attribute that to her loving care,” Vice Admiral Dave Venlet, commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, commended his loving wife for not letting his hair turn gray fast.
Commissioner Dan Raley (D, Great Mills) had joked about starting his own tour of duty nine years ago when he had dark hair, but all of that has gone gray in public service. Raley was elected for a third term, unopposed, in the November elections.
But, a much more serious issue was on the table at St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning which obliged Venlet to come there, flanked by Rear Admiral Steven Eastburg, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, and the ever-present Captain Glen Ives, commanding officer of Pax River.
The issue of concern for Venlet was encroachments around Pax River and Webster Fields bases. One the major stakeholders in the entire process, local builder Guy Curley, was also keenly listening to the proceedings.
“From protecting the bases at Pax River and Webster Field from encroachment, to the very expanding access to education for people of all ages, your efforts to make St. Mary’s County the right place for a highly technical national defense work now and long into the future,” Venlet said. Eastburg emphasized that the Navy mission does rely on the health of the community where a base is located.
Venlet told the commissioners about the crucial role Naval Air Systems plays in helping sailors and marines whose duty puts them into harms way but who continue to dedicate their lives to the Star-Spangled Banner to “secure a future where freedom is served.” He appreciated the tremendous investments and commitments made by the people of St. Mary’s towards the success of the NAVAIR mission.
“We take a lot of pride of pride in what the Navy does,” Commissioner Tom Mattingly (D. Leonardtown) told the Navy leadership.
Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach), a believer in American energy independence, recounted his marine son’s two tours of duty in war-ravaged Iraq and hoped that his granddaughter would not have to go to the Middle East. He drew the attention of the Navy leadership to the mandate they are under a to use bio-diesel in some of their non-tactical operations and pointed out that a local bio-diesel supplier existed in the county. Venlet promised he would go for it.
Board of Commissioners President Jack Russell (D. St. George Island) thanked the Navy for their support of the public school system; pointing out that two of Capt. Ives children attend public schools.
Commissioner Raley told Venlet that Ives and Eastburg have fully integrated into the community and that Ives now attends as many social functions as Raley does, upon which Commissioner Mattingly joked that Ives was slim. Raley responded, “He doesn’t eat.”
Local developer Curley told The Bay Net it was important for him to listen to what the two admirals and captain had to say; that was the reason he attended the commissioners’ meeting.
“It was a good step for the county,” Curley said.
Curley also tol