Navy Lt. Laurence Clemente receives the Surface Navy Association’s leadership award

The Surface Navy Association has awarded its Admiral Arleigh Burke Surface Warfare Operational Excellence Award to Lt. Laurence Clemente, the auxiliaries division officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.

Clemente is the son of Claudia and Laurence Clemente of Goshen and a graduate of Goshen High School.

The Surface Navy Association’s Arleigh Burke Award is presented to those who most clearly exemplify the extraordinary qualities, vision and incisiveness of the nineteenth Chief of Naval Operations.

‘Extremely deserving of the recognition’

The association’s citation reads:

“Lieutenant Clemente demonstrated exceptional leadership and dynamic managerial acumen as Auxiliaries Division Officer and Officer of the Deck from October 2017 to October 2019. His innovative leadership, incredible foresight and expert execution were directly responsible for the superb execution of the USS John C. Stennis work-up cycle and 2018-2019 around-the-world combat deployment.

“As one of only two Surface Warfare Officers detailed to Stennis, Lt. Clemente mentored more than 30 non-Surface Warfare Officers in ship handling, navigation and seamanship.

“He stood over 1,300 hours as Officer of the Deck while deployed to Seventh, Fifth, Sixth and Second Fleet AORs and executed 11 Underway Replenishments and Sea and Anchor details as OOD.

“During these watches, Lt. Clemente navigated the Stennis through strategically delicate situations with Iranian Guard and Chinese Navy warships and Russian intelligence vessels while also supporting combat flight operations.

“He is extremely deserving of the special recognition afforded by this award.”

The Surface Navy Association was incorporated in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Association to promote greater coordination and communication to those in the military, business and academic communities. It provides members with support, programs and various activities to enable professional growth, personal satisfaction and camaraderie.

A product of Goshen schools

Clemente went to Goshen schools from K to 12th grade and then graduated from SUNY Binghamton, according to Claudia Clemente.

“Then being a real outdoorsmen, he completed a succession of ornithological work study projects in Michigan, Oregon, and Alberta, Canada, in the hope of going on to grad school,” Claudia Clemente said in an email exchange with The Chronicle. “But, suddenly, in September 2012 he started Navy OCS. He’s done two tours already, and is looking forward to his next adventure.”

The Clementes have lived in Goshen for 36 years and raised four children in the Goshen School District.

Laurence Clemente has been a practicing attorney in Goshen for more than 33 years, with his wife as his right hand in the office for the last 20 years.

“I do believe Laurence’s friends, family and the educators who helped shape him into the man he has become would enjoy learning of his stellar acknowledgement by the Navy,” the officer’s mother said. “Sorry to prattle on, but I am reminded of one of his grade school teachers who commented that what she admired in Laurence was that he was always the first one to offer to go without or wait if they were short of materials, or would immediately elect to give up a seat to another who needed to sit closer, etc.

“Some people are just born that way, I guess,” she added. “Can’t say it’s entirely hereditary though.”