Senator Honors Morristown Native, Navy Veteran

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg recently honored Navy Ensign and Morristown resident Jennifer Tanforan for her service in the U.S. Navy. 

The event was attended by Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) women cadets from New Jersey universities.  The cadets also participated in a roundtable discussion with Tanforan about her experiences as a woman in the U.S. military. 

“Women in the military are often overlooked, but they play a critical role in keeping our country safe and must be honored for their sacrifices,” said Lautenberg, an Army veteran. “Jennifer Tanforan characterizes the strength and perseverance that is at the core of the United States Military and I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognize her outstanding service to New Jersey and our nation.”  

Navy Ensign Tanforan enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1988 and was stationed in the Indian Ocean for two years before she left active duty in 1993.  After six years in the reserves, Tanforan was recalled to active duty to serve as a recruiter.  She has been honored for her accomplishments as a top Naval recruiter and currently works at the Naval Office Recruiting Station in Woodbridge.

The current total active duty, National Guard, and reserve forces of 2.5 million includes nearly 400,000 women. As of January 2011, more than 260,000 servicewomen have deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 26,000 are currently deployed. Of the 443,000 veterans currently living in New Jersey, approximately 28,000 are women.