He may have served in the active Navy (submarines) but could not have served in the Navy Reserve (submarines) as there are NO Navy Reserve submarines (too dangerous for weekend warriors to operate).
Promoting Opportunity through Security
With her swearing in on January 7, 2003, as U.S. Representative for the 13th District of Florida, Katherine Harris opened the newest chapter in her distinguished career of public service to her native state. With key appointments to the House Financial Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the International Relations Committee, Rep. Harris is continuing her work on behalf of Florida with a strong focus on economic and national security issues. The diligence and determination she has shown in Washington is no surprise to the Floridians who elected her Florida state senator, as well as to a term as Florida’s 23rd and last elected secretary of state. Rep. Harris helped shepherd Florida toward its future as an international leader in economic and foreign affairs, while serving as steward over its past through advocacy on behalf of the state’s libraries, historic preservation and the arts.
Acting upon her commitment to expand quality, affordable housing opportunities for low income Americans, Rep. Harris became a member of the Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. One of her first bills was the American Dream Downpayment Act, an innovative plan to help tens of thousands of low-income families and individuals to achieve the American dream of homeownership. Signed into law by President Bush in December 2003, this program will provide a means for Americans to build not only wealth, but also a brighter future for their families.
As a member of the International Relations Committee, Rep. Harris’ commitment to trade and national security issues is unparalleled. From Colombian narco-terrorism to comprehensive reform of foreign aid funding, Rep. Harris has brought a new vision to foreign relations. The first bill Rep. Harris co-sponsored in Congress demonstrated her concern for the men and women who provide and protect our cherished freedoms. Mindful of representing a district with one of the largest veterans populations, she sought the repeal of a century-old federal law that forces military retirees with service-connected disabilities to forgo a portion of their retirement benefits in order to continue receiving their disability compensation.
Dedicated to serving the veterans in life and death, Rep. Harris’ unwillingness to take “no” for an answer led to the construction of a much-needed new national cemetery in the Sarasota region. In recognition of her achievements during her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Harris has received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise award, the Military Order of the World Wars’ Silver Patrick Henry Medallion for patriotic achievement, and the Jewish & Family Service of Sarasota-Manatee, Inc.’s Philanthropy Award. Rep. Harris has also been named to the Southern Economic Development Council’s Honor Roll of Legislative Achievement in Economic Development.
During her term in the Florida state senate, Rep. Harris passed over one hundred bills, including an economic development package that helped fuel Florida’s dramatic rise from 42nd place to 1st place in the nation as a state to start a new business or grow an existing business; a significant increase in teacher salaries; and stiffened penalties for white collar crime and for crimes committed against the elderly. Cognizant of the tremendous economic benefits trade could bring to Floridians, Rep. Harris laid the strong foundation for Florida’s preeminent campaign to win the Permanent Secretariat for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), as well as working toward the unification of the Gulf region through the enhancement of investment, trade and tourism and cultural exchanges.
Rather than taking cover in the aftermath of the 2000 election controversy, Rep. Harris took the lead in the push for comprehensive election reform. In 2001, she testified before the U.S. House Administration Committee and proposed legislation that became the blueprint for Florida’s nationally acclaimed Election Reform Act. In 2002, as the reform movement waned in many states, she successfully proposed and achieved passage of historic civil rights legislation in Florida that forcefully addresses the exclusion of persons with disabilities from full and equal participation in the electoral process.
A former IBM marketing executive and vice president of a commercial real estate firm, Rep. Harris earned a Master’s Degree from Harvard University with a specialization in international trade and negotiations, and a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Agnes Scott College. She studied abroad at the University of Madrid and at L’Abri outside Geneva, Switzerland. Her commitment to public service has earned Rep. Harris numerous awards, including the Mel Fisher Award for International Trade Advocacy; the Florida Economic Development Council Legislator of the Year Award; the Florida United Business Association Outstanding Legislator Award; the Florida Arts Advocacy Award, the Sarasota Humanitarian of the Year Award and the Sarasota Statesman of the Year Award. Rep. Harris was born in Key West, Florida. She resides in Sarasota with her husband, Anders Ebbeson, and his 21-year-old daughter, Louise.
"(too dangerous for weekend warriors to operate)."
I know in many jobs in the military the reserve and guard components have been superior to their active duty counter parts (in the past at least), in jobs like pilots, armor, medical etc., in some jobs like civil affairs just about everybody is National Guard.
In the 80s I read about a National Guard armor unit, it explained how the crew members had served in the same units, for the same time, as the young men currently on active duty, but that the guard now had 5 or ten years or more with their current guard team, therefore blowing away the young active duty guys in exercises.
In the Air National Guard pilots would do their 4 or 6 years active and then with another 15 years in the guard, defeat their younger, less experienced active duty competition.
The problem with reserve subs would be how to deploy and maintain a sub for 2 day exercises and 2 weeks in the summer.
Among the most difficult units to keep at a level with the active duty is Infantry, Navy Seals, Special Forces and such, it takes a lot of commitment by it's members.