Last Friday, Summerville High School rolled out the red carpet for Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, commander of the Naval Education and Training Command.
During his more than two hours at the school, Kilkenny – a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross among other awards – addressed the cadets, learned about the NJROTC program at Summerville High and even displayed his marksmanship skills alongside the air rifle team.
Kilkenny, a 1977 graduate of The Citadel who has logged more than 3,500 flight hours in tactical jets and 800 carrier-arrested landings, was in the area to attend his alma mater’s homecoming festivities. He had never before visited a Navy Junior ROTC program, said Summerville High NJROTC instructor Col. Claude Davis.
“It was a tremendous honor that we were the first JROTC unit he’s visited and I think it really validates what our (cadets) and instructors have been doing,” Davis said. “He’s definitely the highest-ranking visitor we’ve ever had.”
Kilkenny, who is in charge of training and education throughout the Navy, was the commander for all recruiting in the Navy prior to this current position, Davis said.
The admiral addressed the cadets and told them they can achieve great things if they put in the necessary time and effort.
“There’s a lot of pressure on our students nowadays and one of the lessons I think he left them with is that if you’re a regular person who’s willing to work hard and do your job well, you can progress and get up into the higher rankings,” Davis said. “Sometimes that’s lost on some of our students.”
While in town, Kilkenny also met with Summerville High School Principal Roger Edwards as well as Superintendent Joe Pye and Board Chairman Bo Blanton.
“It’s one thing to read an individual’s biography or list of accomplishments, but it’s another thing to meet that person and I think our (students) came away very impressed,” Davis said. “These experiences don’t come along that often.”

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com