9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies Honor Fallen CNO-IP Shipmates on 25th Anniversary

“It is hard to believe that for the last 25 years we have gathered here to remember the most horrific day in our lifetimes; to remember the loss of nearly three thousand Americans—among them eight of our own ONI shipmates; to remember not just how those shipmates died, but more importantly how they lived. For those of us who were there, September the 11th, 2001 was just yesterday morning—its tragic and heroic events still as vivid and as painful as the day they occurred.”

Those were the words of Captain (Ret) Tom Bortmes, as he began his remarks at the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland on September 11 this year. Each year, at ONI and at Arlington National Cemetery, family members of the fallen, friends, and shipmates gather on that day to honor the eight Naval Intelligence heroes who died in the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11:  

• CDR Dan F. Shanower, USN, 40 (Officer-in-Charge, CNO-IP)
• LCDR Otis V. Tolbert, USN, 38 (Assistant Officer-in-Charge, CNO-IP) 
• LT Jonas M. Panik, USN, 26 (Briefer, CNO-IP)
• LT Darin H. Pontell, USN, 26 (Briefer, CNO-IP)
• Angela M. Houtz, 27 (Senior Naval Analyst, CNO-IP)  
• Brady Kay Howell, 26 (Watch Officer, CNO-IP) 
• Gerard P. Moran, Jr., 39 (Audio/Visual Manager, CNO-IP)
• Information Technician First Class (SW) Julian T. Cooper, USNR, 39 (Civilian Contractor, Navy Command Center)

Captain Bortmes was the commanding officer of ONI on 9/11, charged with leading his command through that tumultuous time—taking care of his people through devastating loss while simultaneously expanding ONI’s mission to fight the new global war on terror. During his remarks, he first recognized the family members present, the “real heroes of 9/11,” and thanked them for coming, for standing with ONI, and for becoming a part of the ONI family. He walked the audience through the events that unfolded that day, a day that went from a “beautiful fall morning” to the “nation’s worst nightmare.” He recounted receiving the initial news of the attacks on the twin towers, followed by the shock and confusion over the attack on the Pentagon; the realization that the CNO-IP needed to be reconstituted; and the painful process of accounting for the missing shipmates. “Who were they?” he asked. “Simply put they were among the best our community, our Navy, and our Nation had to offer. Energetic, talented, wicked smart, dedicated over-achievers, hand-selected for assignment to the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot—and proud to be standing the watch in the premier jobs our community had to offer them.” 

Captain Bortmes also reminded the audience of the critical role ONI played in supporting the new global war to eradicate terror, taking on the new missions of maritime homeland defense and denying Al Qaeda the unencumbered use of the seas—all while maintaining all the pre-9/11 ONI missions and functions. He also outlined the hard lessons learned from 9/11 and urged those standing watch today never to stop asking what the real and emerging threats to our nation are, and raising the alarm about them once recognized. 

In closing, Captain Bortmes referenced the Wall of Remembrance in ONI that memorializes the eight fallen CNO-IP shipmates as still on watch: “That is a proper and honored Navy image of the men and woman we remember today; an image I love and have held of them these many years. . . . I hear their voices and remember their laughter in the breezes that rustle these eight crepe myrtles and the flowing water from this fountain. And I picture their faces much as they are etched on that stone obelisk—intent, happy, observant of the comings and goings of today’s ONI workforce. And content knowing that the mission to which they gave their last full measure has been passed on to a new generation of Naval Intelligence professionals. A generation that will learn from the hard lessons of 9/11; a generation that will continue to welcome and keep faith with their families; a generation that will always remember them.”

At noon that same day, another remembrance ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery, with a largely similar crowd that also included the family members of the fallen. This year, for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the guest speaker was Rear Admiral (Ret) Rick Porterfield, who was the Director of Naval Intelligence at the time of the attacks and led the Naval Intelligence community through an incredibly challenging time. His remarks were an equally poignant reflection of that tragic day and the days that followed.  

Admiral Porterfield thanked the Gold Star family members in the audience for coming and paid tribute to the ones we lost: “We are here to honor the heroes of September 11, 2001—most notably the resilient families who have carried the heavy burden of their loved one’s absence every day since.” He spent a good portion of his time recognizing the many individuals who carried on the mission in the wake of the attack:  Lieutenant Megan Humbert, IS2 Jason Luhiller, ISSN Sarah Cole, IS2 Steven Gully, IS3 Jesse Polasek, who overcame injuries and chaos to assist the survivors from IP; Commander Brian Nicholson, Dan Shanower’s replacement in CNO-IP; Brigadier General Mike Ennis and his Marine Corps headquarters team; the ONI information technology team led by Captain Mark Greer and John Marshall; Commanders Dave Radi and Mary Sobray; Captain Sam Cox, Fifth Fleet N2; the Naval Intelligence Reserve Command led by RADM Jim Manzleman and later RADM Ann Gilbride; Lieutenant Commander Dale Rielage; and Deputy DNI Tish Long and Captain Tom Bortmes, COMONI. 

He then went on to recognize a ninth casualty, Commander Ona Solberg, who passed away from cancer in 2022. Ona was exposed to many carcinogens in CNO-IP in the aftermath of the attack, as she was one of several on the DNI’s staff who volunteered to search for classified documents and personal artifacts within the debris field. 

As Admiral Porterfield ended his remarks, he called for the renewal of a sacred vow in honor of the fallen: