SENECA — The Seneca Shipyard Days Committee, along with the Pillars of Honor Organization, have finalized plans for the Pillars of Honor Presentation and Exhibit to close the Seneca Shipyard Days Festival on Sunday, June 26, at the Seneca High School West Campus.
The Pillars of Honor Organization has lined up CDR Donald Johnson to speak at the event after a performance by The Legacy Girls during the presentation by the organization.
CDR Donaldson is a 1993 graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., earning a bachelor of science in biology. Upon completion of the Surface Warfare Officer’s School Division Officer Course in Newport, R.I., he reported to USS Shenandoah (AD 44) in Norfolk, Va., as the electrical and auxiliaries officer in May 1994. During this tour, he completed a deployment to the Mediterranean.
His next billet was navigation officer, which he held until Shenandoah’s decommissioning in September 1996. He then reported to USS Anzio (CG 68) in Norfolk, Va., as the strike officer, where he completed a Baltic Sea Operations deployment and a deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East. He transferred from Anzio in June 1998.
CDR Donaldson then reported to Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as flag lieutenant to the Deputy Director for C4I, Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N6N8). During his tour in Pearl Harbor, he completed a master’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma in July 2000.
Upon graduation from SWOS Department Head School, CDR Donaldson reported to USS Hopper (DDG 70) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in October of 2001 as the weapons officer and combat systems officer. He completed two deployments to the Middle East in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
In November 2004, CDR Donaldson reported to commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Manama, Bahrain, as the Tomahawk strike warfare officer and assistant current operations officer.
CDR Donaldson reported to USS Chosin (CG 65) as executive officer in March 2006 and deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.
In December of 2007, CDR Donaldson reported to the Navy Staff’s Strategy and Policy Branch (N51) in the Pentagon. CDR Donaldson reported to Naval Recruiting District Chicago in November 2009, and is currently serving as the executive officer.
The event will kick off at noon with the Legacy Girls “Andrew Sisters” performance, followed by the presentation by the Pillars of Honor and then the unveiling of the WW II Replica Exhibit. Coffee, drinks and refreshments will be served. Wheelchair assistance will be available during the event.
Visit the website at www.senecashipyarddays.com for full details.
For more information contact Michael Ellis, Chairman of the Seneca Shipyard Days Committee at 815-357-6144 or mnellis@ellisacehardware.com.
