The U.S Navy honored City Council Chief of Staff Debi Martin May 20 with the Meritorious Service Award, the highest honor a civilian can receive from the National Office of the U.S. Navy League.
The award was presented to Martin during the inactivation ceremony for the USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
Martin served as the submarine’s primary Oklahoma City liaison for 28 years. She meticulously planned tours to Oklahoma City for the sub’s sailors and officers and coordinated visits to the sub for City Councilmembers for almost three decades. In times of crisis, Martin brought together survivors and sailors from the submarine to help our community heal and create a lasting bond with the boat’s crew. She nurtured friendships with 15 of the ship’s 18 commanders during her time with the boat.
"It's rare for the President/CEO along with the Dean for the Center for Maritime Strategy for the national Navy League of the United States to travel from Washington D.C. to attend a ship’s decommissioning ceremony and more over present the organization's Meritorious Service Award to a civilian,” said retired rear admiral and former Under Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic. “Debi Martin spent countless hours of work supporting the crew of Oklahoma City’s namesake submarine was recognized recently by NLUS. All Oklahomans should be extremely proud of Debi's dedication over the years representing our City with the U.S. Navy."
Also honored at the inactivation ceremony was resident Heather Foster who, at age 14, designed the USS Oklahoma City’s (SSN-723) badge.
About Debi Martin
Martin will celebrate 50 years as a City employee Sept. 22. Martin has been City Hall’s steadfast educator and resource for incoming mayors, City Council members and City executives since 1990 when named City Council Chief of Staff. She served as the City liaison to assist with relocating the Oklahoma City Museum of Art downtown, which opened in 2002. During 1995, she frequently met with families who lost children in the Alfred P. Murrah Building tragedy and was named co-chair of the First Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony. Martin formed the First Tee youth golf program to help children build life skills, character and health that empowers them through life. She’s helped lead the Youth Council with Leadership Oklahoma City since 2002 and managed the Reading Buddies program for public school children and enlisted more than 100 City employees as mentors.
About the USS Oklahoma City
The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine was commissioned July 9, 1988 and declared out of service Feb.10, 2022. At 361-feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons, the USS Oklahoma City supported various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov