Navy Lt. Cmdr. Keith Peterson, Gulf alum, expects his doctorate next year, his father reports

Keith A. Peterson, who graduated from Gulf High School in December 1983, is a lieutenant commander in the U. S. Navy. He has a master's degree in engineering and expects to earn his doctorate in June 2002. His education has been paid for by the Navy.

We recently received a letter from his proud father, John A. Peterson of Holiday. Mr. Peterson writes that, after Gulf, his son "went on to graduate from Florida Institute of Technology, in Melbourne, Florida, on June 9, 1990. In his second year at F. I. T., Keith was recruited by the U. S. Navy and paid $1100 a month the next two years, in return for a seven year enlistment. If he kept his current grades, next stop - O. C. S.; if not, an enlisted man.

"After graduation, Keith went on to Officers' Candidate School, Nuclear Power School, Nuclear Prototype School, and Navy Management School.

"He served duty on the U. S. S. Daniel Boone. It was declared obsolete. Keith, at his request, was put in charge of decontaminating it. He served the U. S. N. a lot on the coast and received early promotion. He was assigned to another nuclear sub, the U. S. S. Henry M. Jackson and later to a surface out of Cape Kennedy, Florida (after that tour). He went on to get his master's in engineering and should graduate with his doctorate in June 2002 in Monterey, California.

"All the education paid by the U. S. N."

Keith Peterson has a twin sister, Sarah Barnhardt of Holiday, and another sister, Helen S. Taylor of Dunedin.

Keith's address is 206 Rome Road, Seaside, California 93955. His father wrote the letter to us hoping his son's success might inspire some of our current students. He ended the letter, "Thanks to the teachers and staff for all the good you do." We hope that if Keith reads this page, he isn't too embarrassed!