Joe Sestak
| Joe Sestak | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Curt Weldon |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
|
|
|
| Born | December 12 1951 Secane, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Susan L. Clark |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Joseph A. "Joe" Sestak, Jr. (born December 12 1951) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral and is the Congressman for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district (map). He is the highest-ranking former military officer to serve in Congress.
Personal
Sestak was born in Secane, Pennsylvania and graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in nearby Springfield, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Martin, came to America from the village of Dolné Lovčice in Slovakia in 1922, after World War I, while his father Joseph (age 3), was sent to America in 1924 to join Martin. Sestak's father graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942, and then fought in both the Atlantic and the Pacific during World War II. Following in his father's footsteps, Sestak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in American Political Systems.[1] Between tours at sea, Sestak earned a master's degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University in 1980 and 1984 respectively.[2]
Sestak is married to the former Susan L. Clark and they have a daughter, Alexandra.
Naval career
As a surface warfare officer, Sestak served division officer tours as damage control assistant, combat information center officer and weapons officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd, and then was weapons officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Hoel. He then served as aide and flag lieutenant to the admiral in charge of U.S. Navy surface forces in the Pacific.
In January 1986, Sestak became executive officer of the guided missile frigate USS
Underwood. He then served in the Politico-Military Assessment Division of the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On August 30 1991, Sestak took command of the guided missile frigate USS
Samuel B. Roberts, which was named the
In July 1993, Sestak became the head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. From November 1994 to March 1997, he was the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council staff at the White House, where he was responsible for national security and defense strategy, policies, programs, inter-agency and congressional coordination and regional political-military advice. In May 1997, he became the commander of Destroyer Squadron 14.[1]
Sestak then directed the CNO's Strategy and Policy Division (N51), and led the Navy's efforts toward the 2000 Quadrennial Defense Review, for which he analyzed the economic value of U.S. defense spending. After September 11th, he became the first director of the Navy Operations Group (Deep Blue), which sought to redefine strategic, operational and budgetary policies in the Global War on Terrorism. He reported directly to chief of naval operations Vern Clark as policy adviser and administrator. Sestak told The Hill that as the designated policy adviser and administrator to Clark, it was his job to revamp the Navy, a process that necessarily ruffled feathers. “Change is very challenging,” Sestak said. “It did not sit well with a lot of people...I worked hard, and I did not ask anyone to work harder than me."[3]
In the summer of 2005, Sestak was administratively reassigned from his position as DCNO. His removal was one of the first changes made by Adm. Michael Mullen when he took over as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in July, according to Navy Times.
Sestak's decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal.[4]
However, because Sestak left the Navy before he had been a Vice Admiral long enough to be able to retire at that rank, he actually retired at the lower rank of a two star Rear Admiral.[5]
| Joesph Sestak | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Place of birth | Secane, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance | U.S. Navy |
| Years of service | 1974–2005 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral (retired as Rear Admiral) |
| Commands | Director of Navy Operations Group |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2) Joint Service Commendation Medal |
| Other work | U.S. Congress |
2006 Congressional campaign
In 2006, Sestak challenged ten-term incumbent Curt Weldon in a race for the 7th district Congressional seat. Sestak proved a capable fund-raiser. In the second quarter of 2006, he raised $704,000 to Weldon's $692,000; in the third, $1.14 million to $912,000. As of September 30 2006, Sestak had $1.53 million cash on hand, while Weldon had $1.12 million in the bank after making a $500,000 TV ad buy that had not started as of the close of the third quarter.[6]
On October 6 2006, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report re-rated the race from "Lean Republican" to "Toss Up."[2] A poll released in late September 2006 showed
Sestak and Weldon locked in a statistical dead heat. Sestak led Weldon 44-43 among likely voters in a
Sestak was elected to represent the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania on November 7 2006, defeating Weldon by a 14-point margin (57-43). He is only the second Democrat to represent the Delaware County-based district and its various permutations since the Civil War.
Sestak received campaign funds from famed people around the world, including performer Jimmy Buffet, the Clintons, and many Naval officers.
Congressional career
Sestak is vice-chairman of the Small Business Committee. He is also a member of the Education and Labor and Armed Services committees. To date, he is the highest-ranking military officer ever to serve in Congress.
Criticism
Sestak was criticized by the conservative group Americans Against Hate for accepting an invitation to speak at a fundraiser for CAIR. Joe Kaufman, chairman of Americans Against Hate, said, "The congressman should be working to shut down this organization for its ties to Hamas."[10] Mainstream Jewish organizations have not criticized Sestak for speaking at a CAIR event.
Sestak has also "developed a reputation for being a temperamental and demanding boss" due to reports that thirteen staffers have quit his employment in 2007. Aides are purportedly expected to work seven days a week, including holidays, for 14 hours a day. Sestak justifies these hours, which are considered long even by the standards of Capitol Hill, by presuming to instill a military-minded "toughness" in his civilian staff. However, five staffers who quit his employ refute this rationalization, explaining that they resigned due to Sestak's excessive work hours and temper. According to Jonathan E. Kaplan's article published on September 4 2007 in The Hill newspaper, "At a markup in the House Education and Labor Committee this year, Sestak dressed down a legislative assistant in a manner that got the attention of other lawmakers and aides."[11]
References
- ^ http://post.harvard.edu
- ^ [http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/040506_sestak.html
- ^ http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/jointops00/sestak.html
- ^ William Bender, "Weldon challenger goes from defense to offense", The Delaware County Times, March 6, 2006
- ^ Source: Delaware County Daily Times, Oct 4, 2006[1]
- ^ http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17261171&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6
- ^ http://www.majoritywatch.com/
- ^ http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/navy_vet_sestak_coming_closer.html
- ^ William Bender, "Sestak takes heat over appearance at CAIR banquet", Delaware County Times, March 2, 2007
- ^ Jonathan E. Kaplan, "Rep. Sestak’s staffers keep jumping ship", The Hill, September 4, 2007
External links
- U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak official House site
- Joe Sestak at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- U.S. Navy — Joe Sestak biography
- Federal Election Commission — Joe Sestak campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Joe Sestak issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Joe Sestak Jr campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Joe Sestak (PA) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Joe Sestak profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Joe Sestak voting record
- Joe Sestak For Congress official campaign site
Articles
- PA-7 Watch — Blog about the 2006 PA-7 Congressional race
- "GOP's Financial Edge Shrinks — Challengers Gain On Incumbents" The Washington Post, August 20, 2006
- "Sestak's command raises questions" Times Herald, April 1, 2006
- "War Vs. More War for Congress" The Washington Post, February 13, 2006
- Undated campaign photograph of Sestak
- Undated family photograph of Sestak
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Curt Weldon |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district 2007 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
