At the Quarterly Meeting on the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Squadron on Saturday, August 18th, 2012, Commander Mark D. Kelsey commissioned Mr. Ejike Edward Okpa as an Admiral in the Texas Navy on behalf of Governor Rick Perry, governor of the State of Texas. Governor Perry grants these commissions to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding community support and service for the citizens of the Great State of Texas.
Admiral Kelsey, the Commander of the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Squadron said, “I know of no one more deserving of being commissioned by the Governor than Admiral Okpa.” Admiral Kelsey went on to say, “Admiral Okpa has been a trusted and reliable champion for community service and volunteerism for many decades. His proven track record of success in fundraising and support of the many organizations that he is a member of tells us much about how he channels his leadership skills, unbounded energy and strong intellect into doing good things for his fellow man.”
L-R: Ronke Olusanya-Okpa, Edward Okpa, Milla Perry Jones
In attendance at the meeting were over 60 Admirals and guests, including Mrs. Ronke Olusanya-Okpa, Tayo and Bolanle Addo, Mrs Nike Addo, and Milla Perry Jones, older sister of Gov Perry and Admiral Okpa’s classmate from Leadership Dallas and Legacy Dallas. Admiral Ann Shafer, a direct descendant of Samuel Rhoads Fisher, the first Secretary of the Texas Navy, gave a presentation during the meeting on, “How the Texas Navy Saved the Republic.” Admirals in the Texas Navy are required to help propagate the history of the Texas Navy. To that end, in 2011 the members of the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Squadron were instrumental in having Texas Navy history reintroduced into the school curriculum in Texas for elementary school children.
Admiral Edward Okpa, Governor Rick Perry, Mrs. Ronke Olusanya-Okpa
Admiral Okpa and other members of the Squadron attended the Commissioning of the USS Fort Worth in Galveston, Texas.
Admiral Okpa commented, “I am honored and humbled to have received this recognition from the Governor and I only wish my mother and father in Nigeria could have been alive to be with me today. They would have been very proud of me.”
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