Editor:

     I am a navy veteran, and I support Sen. Susan Collins in her race for re-election to the U.S. Senate. During my time in the navy, I deployed twice to the Persian gulf region, and once to the eastern Mediterranean. Recent pictures of Russian navy ships off the coast of Georgia remind me all too well of days at sea spent tracking Soviet navy vessels. In these challenging times, I want as my senator someone with substantial national security knowledge, and steady judgment.  Sen. Collins has these attributes.

   Sen. Collins serves as the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, where she has justly earned national distinction. In the wake of 9/11,  Sen. Collins co-authored the most sweeping changes to our national intelligence community in 50 years. Sen. Collins is also a member of the committee on armed services, where she serves on both the sea power and emerging threats and capabilities subcommittees. Through her committee work, Sen. Collins has become one of the most knowledgeable members of Congress on matters of national security.

   Time and again Sen. Collins takes an intelligent, practical, and no-nonsense approach to national security challenges, designed to cut through partisan claims of right and left, and keep our nation on a steady course.  As a veteran and as a Mainer, I appreciate Sen. Collins’ steady judgment, and will vote for her re-election.

Michael A. Duddy

Cape Elizabeth