Sean Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Sean Patrick Sullivan (born November 30, 1958) is an attorney, a retired submarine
commander
and was commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London
. He was the Republican
candidate for the United States Congress
in Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
in 2008.
in 1976 by recommendation of Senator Lowell Weicker. Upon graduation
magna cum laude with a degree in Engineering
, he joined the United States Navy
submarine force and served there for nearly two decades. He became commander of the USS Jefferson City
in 1996. By the time of his retirement from the Navy, he achieved the rank of Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine Base in New London
.
He has served on Ledyard
's Board of education
, the Military Affairs Committee of The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, and is on Governor M. Jodi Rell
's Commission of the Economic Diversification of Eastern Connecticut. He holds a M.A.
in National Security Affairs from the Naval War College
and a J.D.
from the University of Connecticut School of Law
.
He is an associate lawyer with the firm Brown Jacobson P.C. in Norwich, Connecticut
.
's nomination to run against Joe Courtney
for Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
seat on May 9, 2008.
A poll released by the University of Connecticut on September 30, 2008 showed Courtney leading the race among likely voters fifty percent to twenty-three percent with twenty-four percent undecided. Sullivan has the loyalty of ⅔ of registered Republicans but Courtney has eighty-six percent of registered Democrats and a two to one lead among Independents.
Sullivan lost the election to Courtney by a two to one margin.
rather than on President Bush
. He believes health care should be administered by the states
even if funding comes from the Federal Government
. He advocates increasing use of naval power to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan
rather than increasing ground troop levels.
He is a strong advocate for nuclear power
and supports removing political obstacles to building new plants.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
and was commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
. He was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district includes the towns of New London, Norwich, Storrs, Groton, and Southwood Acres....
in 2008.
Career
Sullivan was appointed to the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1976 by recommendation of Senator Lowell Weicker. Upon graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
magna cum laude with a degree in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
submarine force and served there for nearly two decades. He became commander of the USS Jefferson City
USS Jefferson City (SSN-759)
USS Jefferson City , a , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Jefferson City, Missouri. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 26 November 1984 and her keel was laid down on 21 September 1987. She...
in 1996. By the time of his retirement from the Navy, he achieved the rank of Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine Base in New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
.
He has served on Ledyard
Ledyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
's Board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, the Military Affairs Committee of The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, and is on Governor M. Jodi Rell
M. Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
's Commission of the Economic Diversification of Eastern Connecticut. He holds a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in National Security Affairs from the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Connecticut School of Law
University of Connecticut School of Law
The University of Connecticut School of Law is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States and is considered a Tier 1 school by U.S...
.
He is an associate lawyer with the firm Brown Jacobson P.C. in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
.
2008 congressional campaign
Sullivan accepted the Connecticut Republican PartyConnecticut Republican Party
The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the U.S. Republican Party. Jerry Labriola Jr., a Wallingford attorney and 2010 candidate for Congress, is the party chairman, elected on June 28, 2011. Prior to his election as chairman, Labriola served as the party's...
's nomination to run against Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney (politician)
Joseph Courtney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Courtney grew up in suburban Hartford and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University...
for Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district includes the towns of New London, Norwich, Storrs, Groton, and Southwood Acres....
seat on May 9, 2008.
A poll released by the University of Connecticut on September 30, 2008 showed Courtney leading the race among likely voters fifty percent to twenty-three percent with twenty-four percent undecided. Sullivan has the loyalty of ⅔ of registered Republicans but Courtney has eighty-six percent of registered Democrats and a two to one lead among Independents.
Sullivan lost the election to Courtney by a two to one margin.
Stances on issues
Sullivan is a proponent of spending control in Washington and places the blame for increased spending on CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
rather than on President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. He believes health care should be administered by the states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
even if funding comes from the Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. He advocates increasing use of naval power to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
rather than increasing ground troop levels.
He is a strong advocate for nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and supports removing political obstacles to building new plants.