Retirements

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, March-April, 2003

RADM Michael E. Finley

RADM Michael E. Finley, SC, USN, completed 30 years of active service and retired on Feb. 1, 2003, after serving at Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa.

Prior to that, he served as the director, Supply Programs and Policy Division (N41) in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

RADM Finley received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Cornell University and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1973 through the Navy ROTC program. He received a master's degree, with distinction, in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. Based on his post-graduate studies in the area of generalized networks, RADM Finley received the Chief of Naval Operations Award for Excellence in Operations Research in 1982 and was admitted to the scientific honorary society Sigma Xi. He is a 1996 graduate of The Executive Program at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia.

Commissioned as a Line Officer, his initial tour was aboard a minesweeper, USS Engage (MSO 433), where he served as weapons officer, mine countermeasures officer and supply officer. Realizing his service would be best utilized in the field of logistics,

RADM Finley transferred from the Line to the Supply Corps in 1975. He subsequently was assigned as the supply officer of USS Gato (SSN 615), qualifying in submarines and as Officer of the Deck, Surfaced and Submerged.

He later served aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as assistant supply officer, qualified as a Naval Aviation Supply Officer and later served as supply officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

His shore duty assignments include Navy Ships Parts Control Center, Naval Supply Center Norfolk; Naval Air Station Oceana; Naval Supply Systems Command; (two tours) Executive Officer of the Defense Logistics Agency and Executive Assistant to the Agency Director. He was the Commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR), a Defense Logistics Agency inventory control point. Under his leadership DSCR won the Commander-in-Chief's Award for Installation Excellence, the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award, three Vice President Gore Hammer Awards, and two White House Closing the Circle Awards for Environmental Excellence.

He has extensive financial management, acquisition and supply chain management experience. He pioneered the use of Reverse Auctions as an acquisition method within DoD and has been a leader in Performance Based Logistics and Electronic Commerce. Finley was selected for the rank of rear admiral (lower half) in 1998 and advanced to two stars in May 2002. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Naval Aviation Supply Officer Wings and Submarine Supply Dolphins. In addition to being a member of the Navy Acquisition Professional Community, RADM Finley is also a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

CAPT Jeffrey D. Braden

CAPT Jeffrey D. Braden, SC, USN, completed 25 years of active service and retired on Feb. 1, 2003, after serving at Naval Sea Systems Command, Arlington, Va. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. His previous duty stations include USS Boxer (LHD 4); Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.; Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70); Naval Transportation Management School, Oakland, Calif.; USS Ogden (LPD 5); Navy Maintenance and Supply Systems Office, Norfolk, Va.; and USS Hector (AR 7).

CAPT Gigette P. Caldwell

CAPT Gigette P. Caldwell, SC, USN, completed 29 years of active service and retired on Jan. 1, 2003, after serving at Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Ford Island, Hawaii. She received her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her master's degree from San Diego State University. Her previous duty stations include Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Naval Inventory Control Point, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, San Diego, Calif.; USS Dixon (AS 37); Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; USS Proteus (AS 19); Naval Supply DepotAgana, Guam; Resale Activity Mare Island, Vallejo, Calif.; Navy Exchange Naval Station Mare Island, Vallejo, Calif.; Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif.; and Branch Commissary Store Mare Island, Vallejo, Calif.

CAPT John W. Drerup Jr.

CAPT John W. Drerup Jr., SC, USN, completed 27 years of active service and retired on Jan. 1, 2003, after serving at Naval Inventory Control Point, Mechanicsburg, Pa. He received his bachelor's degree from the U. S. Naval Academy and his master's degree from University of Florida. His previous duty stations include Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Ga.; Bureau of Naval Personnel, Arlington, Va.; USS George Washington (CVN 73); Commander, Naval Air Force U. S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va.; Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Va.; Naval Air Systems Command, Project Management Office, Arlington, Va.; Navy Supply Systems Command, Washington, D.C. USS Callaghan (DDG 994); Navy Supply Center, Bremerton, Wash.; and USS Camden (AOE 2).