Rear Adm. Timothy McGee, Commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, recognized three who have worked in the effort to secure housing for all of the Navy military, civilian and contract employees at Stennis who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Cmdr. Chris Kent and Chief Petty Officer Richard Wike received the Meritorious Service Medal and Chief Petty Officer Montress Johnson received the Navy Commendation Medal for their work managing the housing effort. The Navy has developed mobile home parks and leased apartments, condominiums and houses to provide adequate temporary housing to Navy families during the recovery. Kent, Wike and Johnson have managed that operation.

Kent, a staff officer, had been scheduled for a transfer, but he was moved to the newly established housing office in the headquarters after the storm. Wike, a reservist from Jacksonville, Fla., was activated five days after the storm, and has spent the last 12 months at Stennis. Johnson became a part of the team in October.