DOWNEY - Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard congratulated Downey resident John Haddad on his recent graduation from the United States Naval Academy and his posting as a Surface Warfare Officer on the USS Chancellorsville in San Diego.Haddad was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy upon his graduation from the academy. A native of Downey, Haddad graduated from St. John Bosco High School in 2006 and studied at Cal State Long Beach before gaining admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. "I was delighted to be able to nominate John to the U.S. Naval Academy and am extremely proud of him and his determination to attend the Academy and serve our country," Roybal-Allard said in a statement. "His drive to succeed and his dedication to his country are exemplary. He is a wonderful asset to our community." As a member of Congress, Roybal-Allard can nominate students from her congressional district to the four U.S. service academies: the Military Academy at West Point; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. Admission to a service academy is a competitive process. Every year well-rounded students from across the country and around the world apply to attend one of the military institutions. In exchange for a fully-funded college education, academy graduates agree to serve in the military as commissioned officers for a minimum of five years. To be eligible for a nomination from Roybal-Allard, students must be U.S. citizens and live in California's 34th congressional district. Applications for a nomination are due by Oct. 31.

********** Published: September 6, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 21