Quarterly Newsletter

Following a tour of the BWXT Core Production Facility in Lynchburg, Virginia, Admiral Bill Houston, Director, Naval Reactors, and Representative John McGuire (VA-05) pose with the soon-to-be-delivered first of its kind reactor power unit for the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, District of Columbia (SSBN-826). The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, designed to replace aging Ohio-class boats as the most survivable, stealthy, and advanced leg of the nuclear triad, feature a "life-of-the-ship" reactor core designed to operate for its entire 42-year service life without needing mid-life refueling.

A native of Washington, D.C., Admiral Harris attended Gonzaga College High School and later graduated from James Madison University. His early sea assignments included tours aboard USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Vincennes (CG-49), USS Jarrett (FFG-33), USS Coronado (AFG-11), USS Benfold (DDG-65) and commanded USS Comstock (LSD-45). During his command tour, he supported Operation Enduring Freedom as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as a non-combatant evacuation of Lebanon in 2006. Admiral Harris served in multiple shore assignments including as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet and Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff before retiring in 2015. Awarded the 2022 VADM Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Leadership Award which recognizes leaders who exemplify the trailblazing, courageous service of the late U.S. Surface Navy Vice Admiral.

A Third Generation Washingtonian and military veteran, Attorney Miller graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer.  Graduating Cum Laude from the Howard University School of Law, Attorney Miller earned his Master of Laws Degree in 1989 from the George Washington University National Law Center.  Appointed as a law clerk to Judge Shellie F. Bowers, he later served as an attorney in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of General Counsel (OGC), where he was awarded the Secretary of VA’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams appointed–and the DC Council unanimously confirmed–Attorney Miller as the Director of the newly established DC Office of Veterans Affairs.  He was reappointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty until retiring in 2008. Inducted into the 2019 Washington DC Hall of Fame, Attorney Miller was awarded the Politics and Government Legacy Award for his lifelong committed public service to the DC Community.  Awarded the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association’s 2025 Thriving as Leaders Award (TAL) in the Volunteer Leadership and Service category through his outstanding achievement, volunteer leadership, and service, thereby inspiring others to greater heights of achievement.

First authorized on 26 April 1869, for “obedience, sobriety, and cleanliness” as well as proficiency in “gunnery and seamanship,” the Good Conduct medal changed since then, the criteria for receiving it shifted in response to a process of modernization underway since the end of the nineteenth century.