About Joe Sestak

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After graduating from Cardinal O’Hara High School, Joe Sestak entered the U.S. Naval Academy from his hometown of Springfield, Pa., and graduated with the class of 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He left the naval service after almost 31 years in January 2006, after having reached the rank of Vice Admiral.

He served six sea tours with units of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during which he made seven deployments to Europe, the Persian Gulf and the western and South Pacific. He served in command of USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) named the best overall surface ship in the Atlantic Fleet in the Battenberg Cup selection, and as Commander, Destroyer Squadron Fourteen. He also served at sea as Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and George Washington Battle Group deploying to both the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. As the Battle Group Commander, he led an international coalition force of 30 U.S. and allied ships and 15,000 sailors, exercising command of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as senior diplomatic engagements throughout Southwest Asia, Europe and Africa.

Between tours at sea, Joe earned a master's degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

He served on the Joint Staff in the Force Structure Resources and Assessment Directorate where he prepared politico-military-economic analyses of national security/military strategy and policy for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, formulating assessments of future security environment and security policy. He also served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch and Director of the Strategy and Policy Division responsible for developing the maritime element of national military/security strategy, policy and arms control.

Joe was then the Director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review where he developed the strategic vision which guided the development of a comprehensive set of analytical studies that outlined the value of the nations economic investment in strategic warfare requirements. He then became the first Director of the Navy Operations Group (Deep Blue) following 9/11, where he formulated a comprehensive redefinition of strategic, operational and budgetary policies in the Global War on Terrorism.

Joe also served in the Office of the President of the United States as 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, interagency and congressional coordination and regional political/military advice.

He later served as Director, Assessment Division / Capability Analysis Group (N81/N00X) where he directed the independent analysis and centralized assessment of all Joint and Navy national security strategy, policies, force posture requirements and resources, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). He provided the CNO alternative approaches to national security strategy apart from traditional Joint/Navy strategic and resource sponsors.

Joe was then appointed to the grade of Vice Admiral and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs (N6/N7) where he directed the assessment, integration and budgetary programming of all naval warfare requirements for the Navy’s Five Year Defense Plan of $350 Billion, and articulated its relationship with national security strategy to the White House, Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Joe is married to the former Susan L. Clark and they have a daughter, Alexandra.

9/30/06 - Former NATO chief stumps for Sestak

Former NATO chief stumps for Sestak

September 30, 2006 By William Bender | Times Staff | Delco Times

CLIFTON HEIGHTS -- Former NATO commander Wesley Clark appeared at an American Legion Friday to endorse Democratic congressional candidate Joseph Sestak and urge his supporters not to cede any ground to Republicans on national security issues.

"We’re not going to duck the security issue as Democrats. We’re going to take the Republicans on head-on," said Clark, a retired four-star Army general who commanded NATO forces during the Kosovo conflict.

Clark, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, said President Bush failed to heed warnings from the outgoing Clinton administration about Osama bin Laden, allowing the Sept. 11 attacks to occur. The number of terrorists aligned with al-Qaida, he said, has since doubled.

"I just want to remind you to remind those people that are worried about Democrats: Who was president on 9/11? It was not Bill Clinton," he told a bipartisan crowd at American Legion Post 358.

"This administration won’t tell the American people the truth. They’re not doing the job on national security," Clark said. "Osama bin Laden is still out there. He has not been caught. And the war in Iraq has served as a recruiting magnet for al-Qaida. It’s made the terrorism problem worse."

"Those aren’t the indicators," he added, "of a gang that’s very good on national security."

Clark managed to make it through his endorsement speech without mentioned Sestak’s opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon. He was asked about Weldon during a question-and-answer session with the audience.

"Look, I’ve watched Curt Weldon at close range. I try to stay away from the bursting radius. Because we always had a joke about an unguided missile, you know?" he said. "I’m sure Curt Weldon is a decent man, personally, but he’s been part of that roll-over, do-nothing rubber-stamp Congress that hasn’t held the president accountable for his misleadership in America. You need a congressman that can do that."

Sestak, a former three-star Navy admiral, is polling evenly with Weldon in the 7th District Keystone Poll released Friday. The Iraq war has emerged as the major issue in the race, followed by the economy and the war on terror, according to the poll.

In an interview before Clark’s appearance, Weldon blamed the Clinton administration for failing to enforce arms treaties throughout the 1990s that allowed Iraq, North Korea, Iran and other rogue nations to acquire banned weapons technology.

"That’s the run-up to where we are today," said Weldon, vice chairman of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.

While he defended the removal of Saddam Hussein as "the right thing to do," he acknowledged the Bush administration should have required Arab nations to fund the rebuilding of Iraq and listened to Gen. Eric Ken Shinseki when he said more U.S. soldiers would be needed to secure the country after the invasion.

Despite those "significant mistakes," Weldon said, "there is no doubt in my mind we’re better off having removed Saddam."

Clark declined to comment on his future political aspirations, other than to say he hasn’t ruled out running for president in 200

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC Endorses Joe Sestak

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 IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA PAC

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA PAC ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT OF JOE SESTAK FOR CONGRESS

Joe Sestak, running for Congress in Pennsylvania's 7th district, is receiving the endorsement of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Political Action Committee (IAVA PAC).

"Joe represents exactly the type of person that America needs in Congress right now," said Jon Soltz, an Iraq Veteran and Executive Director of IAVA PAC. "Joe has a long and established military career, most recently serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. His deep understanding of the military and experience advising President Clinton makes him one of the most deserving people in the nation to go to Congress and help right our course in Iraq."

"Joe Sestak is just the kind of person the people of Pennsylvania deserve to have represent them in Congress," said retired General Wesley dark, who serves on the Board of Advisors of IAVA PAC. "The people of the seventh District can cast a vote for him with pride, knowing that he will serve them as honorably as he has served his country."

Joe Sestak has a resume that offers the perfect challenge to the incumbent. Sestak holds a PhD in Political Economy from Harvard and rose to the grade of Vice Admiral and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs (N6/N7) and represented the Navy to the White House, Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also served as Battle Group Commander for a fleet of 30 allied ships and 15,000 troops engaged in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 7th District went for Senator John Kerry by 53% in 2004 and for Vice President Gore with 51% in 2000. The incumbent has seen his percentage slip from 66% in 2002 to 59% in 2004. In 2004 he outspent his opponent $678k to $23k. Sestak's general election opponent is weak on fundraising, having only $266k on hand, the least of any incumbent IAVA PAC's endorsed candidates are facing.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC (www.iavapac.org) is the only political action committee headed by a Veteran of the war in Iraq to benefit exclusively the campaigns of those Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who are seeking to continue their service by running for public office.

Sestak Delivers National Response to President Bush’s Weekly Radio Address

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Aug 18th, 2006

Joe Sestak Delivers Democratic Radio Address

August 19, 2006 We encourage you to listen to the clip

Sestak Delivers National Response to President Bush’s Weekly Radio Address

Sestak’s Message: Iraq Distracting Us from National Security

Media, PA. — On Saturday, August 19th, 2006, Joe Sestak, Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, delivered the Democratic Radio Address.

Hello. My name is Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania; I am a former 3-star Vice Admiral who spent 31 years serving my country in our Navy - they were the proudest years of my life. Today, I’d like to talk to you about a topic that’s too important for partisan politics: a new direction for America’s security.

Last week, the Chairman of the 9/11 Commission made a startling comment. He said he didn’t believe that security was a priority for the White House.

After recently retiring from the Navy, I returned to my home in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to run for Congress. I was concerned that our national security was at risk. In the place I had learned leadership, hope and the meaning of American ideals, I found my fellow citizens were uneasy: our country was bogged down in Iraq, security elsewhere in the world was breaking down, safety at home was uncertain. Our leaders weren’t leading.

Everyday, we hear more discouraging news about the dangers we face around the world. It starts with Iraq. But the Bush administration then failed to deal early with Iran as it developed a nuclear capability. It ignored North Korea, now launching missiles. And after 6 years of not paying attention, the Middle East erupted again.

I was on the ground in Afghanistan, saw what needed to be done, and returned in command of an aircraft carrier battle group with men and women dedicated to getting the job done. When I returned to Afghanistan eighteen months later, I saw what hadn’t been done. Our attention and resources had been shifted to Iraq. Now, Afghanistan is in danger of once again falling prey to terrorists.

It’s time for new leadership, a leadership that remembers that while we are respected for the power of our military and the power of our economy, we are admired for the power of our ideals.

It is time for a new direction. It starts by speaking honestly with America about the true costs of Iraq, including to our security. There is no better military than ours: our men and women are a national treasure who have performed brilliantly-they always do. Now it’s time for their mission to change. We must begin a phased redeployment of our forces so that we are prepared to face the security challenges we have worldwide.

The fact is, we are fostering a culture of dependence in Iraq. Iraqi leaders must be responsible for their own country. They must make the difficult political compromises that will stop the civil war and bring about stability. We cannot do this work for them.

Completing our mission in Iraq will also make America safer everywhere. It allows us to focus on security threats like North Korea and Iran. It gives us the flexibility to revitalize and transform our military. It keeps America’s eye on the target: terrorism.

The recent airline plot in Great Britain reminds us of the value of allies in any conflict; but it also forces us to ask: “are we doing everything possible to make America safe?”

For the cost of two days in Iraq we could screen 100% of all air cargo on passenger planes.

Incredibly, ten years after al Qaeda plotted to bring liquid explosives onto planes, our airports are still not equipped to detect them.

With what we spend in 5 days in Iraq, we could ensure that all of the cargo entering our ports is screened for dangerous radioactive weapons.

The status quo is unacceptable. We must do better.

This Congress has failed to provide the leadership for America to do this. It is time for a new leadership that believes in a change for a safer and more secure America. It’s time for a new direction, for an America that believes in a safer and more secure world.

That is why I am running on a belief formed from 31 years in the service of our country: That whenever America has looked itself in the national mirror at a time of great challenge, it has said “we are better than this.”

It is in these moments that America has achieved its greatest accomplishments.

I am former Vice-Admiral Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district. Thank you very much for listening.

PA-7 Watch: Sestak blasts Weldon for New Orleans / Katrina failures

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BLOG: www.pa7watch.com
by Seventh Watch
Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Sestak blasts Weldon for New Orleans / Katrina failures

Joe Sestak minced no words yesterday as he blasted Curt Weldon for his part of another one of the Bush / Republican Congress failures - the lack of preparedness and poor reponse to Hurricane Katrina.

From the Delco Times Aug. 30:

"The oversight responsibility of Congress is not being done," said Sestak
...
Sestak blamed Weldon and the Bush administration for failing to prepare for one of the worst natural disasters in American history.
...
Sestak cited recent reports detailing billions of dollars worth of no-bid contracts awarded after Katrina. He criticized the Republican-controlled Congress for wasting money in Iraq that could be used to bolster the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"I believe we have our priorities wrong," he said, describing how the equivalent of FEMA’s annual budget is spent within weeks in Iraq.

Former FEMA director Michael Brown said Tuesday that the Bush administration "would not give me the money" for catastrophic planning.

Sorry New Orleans, and Mississippi, and other areas hit by Katrina. Bush gave the money back to his campaign contributors. And Weldon helped him do it.