Loren continues his dedication to public service

June 24, 2015

Rear Admiral Don Loren (ret.)

When 63-year-old retired Rear Adm. Don Loren first took his oath of office 32 years ago, he never thought the Navy would encompass his entire life.  The Alexandria, Va., native enlisted when the Vietnam conflict was at its lowest ebb with the American people.

“I was always inclined to public service,” Loren said. “My father was in the Navy, and public sentiments don’t always have a significant impact on the actions I choose, nor did they factor into the decision I made to serve.”

No one can plot the course of life or a career as a youngster, he added.

“They’re either fooling themselves or you,” he said. “I did my job. I was constantly being offered interesting and challenging assignments and before I knew it 32 years had passed.”

Loren said he never had one significant mentor over the course of his career.  “I’ve had several mentors. This morning I’m attending a retirement ceremony for a man who used to work for me. The relationships you have for those you worked for and those who have worked for you is very strong.”

The admiral did, however, note his most significant experience as a military man.

“I was fortunate to have many fulfilling experiences over the years. It was an honor to work for General Colin Powell.”

Although retired, Loren keeps himself busy with his wife Maureen, a retired Marine colonel, and 15-year-old son, Chris.

Loren is also dedicated to public service as the national liaison with Vets4Energy (https://vets4energy.com).

Vets4Energy is a grassroots organization that represents American veterans and their families. “We want to make sure the public focuses on the fact that energy policy decisions, how we use, develop, and legislate energy is linked to national security,” he said.

“Energy affects everything we do, every day of our lives,” he said. “From a national security standpoint energy is the element that keeps our nation secure.”
Vets4Energy does not support any single form of energy. “We’re all-inclusive: wind, solar, nuclear. We just have to bear in mind while energy independence is important we must continue to be good stewards of the environment and the planet,” he said.

Loren plans to spend the Fourth of July holiday at home with family and friends. A week later he’s off with his son Chris, a newly minted Eagle Scout, for some white water rafting on the Colorado River.
That said, he never forgets, or has forgotten, what the Fourth of July represents.

“It’s our national day,” Loren said. “It’s the day that we as Americans declared our independence and our rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. What many people don’t realize is when we take our oath we don’t swear allegiance to the president, the nation or even the flag — we raise our right hands and swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Loren also stressed that July Fourth should be a day of remembrance. “We should be thinking about how fortunate and lucky we are. We should celebrate and be proud of who and what we are and rededicate ourselves that we live by the values of the Constitution and all the people it serves. It’s a day to be proud to be an American.”