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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Jackson, Simmons (12th)
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 41
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING COMMANDER DESMOND WALKER OF 1
HOLLANDALE, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE 45TH ANNUAL VICE 2
ADMIRAL JAMES BOND STOCKDALE LEADERSHIP AWARD. 3
WHEREAS, we join the United States Navy in recognizing the 4
dedication, expertise and commitment to excellence by a 5
Mississippi naval officer; and 6
WHEREAS, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle 7
presented Commander Desmond Walker, former Commanding Officer of 8
the USS Stout (DDG55) and native of Hollandale, Mississippi, with 9
the 45th Annual Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award 10
during a ceremony held in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon on 11
January 15, 2026; and 12
WHEREAS, the Stockdale Leadership Award is presented annually 13
to recognize commanding officers, one from the Pacific Fleet and 14
one from the Atlantic Fleet, who demonstrate inspirational 15
leadership, both professionally and personally, while also 16
contributing to the improvement of leadership in the Navy; and 17
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WHEREAS, Commander Desmond Walker, a native of Hollandale, 18
Mississippi, recently completed a tour as Commanding Officer of 19
the USS Stout, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Norfolk, 20
Virginia; and 21
WHEREAS, Walker is a 1996 graduate of the Mississippi School 22
for Mathematics and Science, a 2005 graduate of Norfolk State 23
University and a 2012 graduate of Old Dominion University; and 24
WHEREAS, the skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy 25
are similar to those found in Hollandale. "Growing up in the 26
Mississippi Delta, you are not a stranger to hard work to make 27
ends meet," Walker said. "That work ethic carried forward into my 28
service, whether I was a work center supervisor (enlisted) or a 29
department head (officer). Plus, I always give credit to my uncle 30
who served in the Navy in the 1940s"; and 31
WHEREAS, Commander Walker joined the Navy 29 years ago. "I 32
was conflicted on what I wanted to do after high school," Walker 33
said. "After learning about the opportunities and benefits in the 34
U.S. Navy, I signed up for the delayed entry program and committed 35
to military service." Walker is grateful for his service as the 36
USS Stout's Commanding Officer. "After serving with those sailors 37
for 23 months, from maintenance and training to bringing everyone 38
home after a historic combat deployment, the impact I had on those 39
300 sailors, as a witness to their tenacity, durability, and 40
resilience, is the best part about my career as a Surface Warfare 41
Officer"; and 42
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WHEREAS, Commander Desmond Walker received an award for 43
completing his tour as Commanding Officer of the USS Stout. At 44
the end of his tour, Walker earned a Bronze Star Medal and Combat 45
Action Ribbon for individual and unit offensive/defensive actions 46
in a combat zone while in command of an Arleigh Burke-class guided 47
missile destroyer. Additionally, Walker earned the Meritorious 48
Service Medal (third star) for the culmination of actions as a 49
commanding officer that led the crew through an arduous training 50
cycle, earning dozens of awards and recognition; and 51
WHEREAS, the USS Stout is a guided missile destroyer named 52
after Rear Admiral Herald F. Stout, who distinguished himself as 53
the Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Claxton during WWII. 54
A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate 55
independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The 56
ship is equipped with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a 57
Phalanx close-in weapons system. More than 300 sailors serve 58
aboard a destroyer; and 59
WHEREAS, the U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this 60
year. According to Navy officials, "America is a maritime nation 61
and for 250 years, America's Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe 62
in defense of freedom." With 90% of global commerce traveling by 63
sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea 64
fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the 65
prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting 66
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and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of 67
America; and 68
WHEREAS, Commander Walker had many opportunities to achieve 69
accomplishments during military service. "I am most proud of my 70
ship earning the most recent Battle Effectiveness Award and 71
Retention Excellence Award," Walker said. "Both awards validated 72
our approach to leadership, training, and professional 73
development, as a culture, such that the way we did business was 74
always at a high standard. This also translated to multiple 75
promotions and achievements for dozens of sailors, which greatly 76
improved job satisfaction and serving with a purpose"; and 77
WHEREAS, Walker serves a Navy that operates far forward, 78
around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's 79
prosperity and security. "After serving 29 years in the Navy, 80
this thought has evolved," Walker added. "At this point in my 81
career, I love the consistent opportunities to help others succeed 82
in the Navy"; and 83
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the United 84
States Navy in commending the career of a Mississippi naval 85
officer who has brought honor to his branch of service, his 86
community and to the State of Mississippi: 87
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 88
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize Commander Desmond Walker 89
of Hollandale, Mississippi, upon his receipt of the 45th Annual 90
Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award, and extend to 91
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ST: Recognize Commander Desmond Walker upon
receipt of 45th Annual Vice Admiral Stockdale
Leadership Award.
Commander Walker and his family our best wishes on this high honor 92
and his future service. 93
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 94
Commander Walker, forwarded to the Chief of Naval Operations of 95
the United States Navy and Mississippi's congressional delegation 96
and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 97