The eleventh annual Admiral Stanley R. Arthur Awards for Logistics Excellence were presented on June 26 2007 at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., by VADM Michael K. Loose, CEC, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics and retired Navy ADM Stanley R. Arthur.
In his speech during the award ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Vice Admiral Michael Loose said, “all of us are here to pay tribute to you for your outstanding innovation, performance and outstanding contributions to our Navy. We applaud your exceptional leadership, hard work and extraordinary results. You epitomize the logistics profession and excellence… and you are truly the very best from a field of over 100,000 people who executive over 28 billion dollars annually.” Also attending the award ceremony at the Pentagon was Cyprus Ambassador to Washington, Andreas Kakouris, Lieut. Col. Scott Miller from the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus, and American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President and Founder, Gene Rossides and Executive Director Nick Larigakis.
“Cyprus is an important and reliable strategic partner for U.S. interests in the region. The extraordinary logistical assistance that Cyprus and its people provided in the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon last July is only one example that underscores its value to the U.S.,” commented Gene Rossides.
George Solomonides dedicated the award to his late father, Mr Takis Solomonides, who had devoted his life towards developing Cyprus shipping and tourism industries, and also to the late U.S. Defence Attache in Nicosia, Lieut. Col. Thomas Mooney who was a close friend and was instrumental in the successful evacuation of the American citizens from Lebanon in July 2006.