SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2008 SPECIAL SESSION II


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6016
Celebrating the life of Admiral, USN Ret., Donald Lee Pilling.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, June 24, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, June 25, 2008

 

WHEREAS, Admiral Donald Lee Pilling, United States Navy retired, a four-star admiral and business executive, died on May 26, 2008; and

WHEREAS, a native of New York, Admiral Pilling attended the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated fourth in his class and was one of the school’s first Trident scholars; and

WHEREAS, a brilliant scholar, Admiral Pilling went on to receive a doctorate in mathematics at the University of Cambridge and also studied defense acquisition and national security issues at the Brookings Institution later in his career; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling met Barbara Orbon, the love of his life; they had two wonderful daughters and were married for 42 years; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling’s experience at sea included service as commander of the USS Dahlgren and Destroyer Squadron 26; as a flag officer, he commanded Cruiser Group 12 of the USS Saratoga battle group and the U.S. Sixth Fleet/Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe; and

WHEREAS, recognized for his intelligence and leadership, Admiral Pilling served as a member of the National Security Council staff of President George H. W. Bush; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling served four tours on the Navy staff and in 1997 became the Navy’s 30th vice chief of naval operations; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling retired from the United States Navy in 2000 and two years later joined LMI, a government consulting firm; and

WHEREAS, while at LMI, Admiral Pilling established several programs, including backup child and elder care that contributed to the organization’s selection as one of Washingtonian Magazine’s “Best Places to Work”; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling was a member of the Defense Science Board, the White House Fellows Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations; and

WHEREAS, Admiral Pilling will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and brilliant intellect and will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Barbara; their children, Kathleen and Jennifer, and their families; and numerous friends and admirers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of Admiral, USN Ret., Donald Lee Pilling, an admired military and business leader and outstanding Virginian; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Admiral, USN Ret., Donald Lee Pilling as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.