Blunt heads to Missouri after duty overseas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt, activated by the Naval Reserve after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is returning home after six months of duty.

Blunt, 32, a lieutenant, had been stationed near London where he served as an assistant operations and security officer. As of Thursday, Blunt was back in the United States undergoing a demobilization process that could take a few days, said Spence Jackson, a spokesman for the Republican secretary of state.

Blunt is expected to return first to his Springfield-area home and be back on the job in Jefferson City sometime next week, Jackson said.

He has been on active duty since Oct. 9 and could have been deployed for a full year.

Jackson said he did not know specifically why Blunt was returning early, but he pointed to a Navy guideline encouraging commanding officers to send reservists home whenever they can be replaced with active duty personnel.

An active duty officer from another department has been shifted into the job that Blunt was performing, Jackson said.

Blunt was the nation's only statewide elected official called to active military service. In his absence, Executive Deputy Secretary of State Dan Ross has been managing the daily affairs of the office.

During his off hours with the Navy, Blunt has kept tabs on the secretary of state's office through regular phone calls and e-mails.

"He can't wait to see friends and family and get back to one full-time job instead of two full-time jobs," Jackson said.

In Blunt's absence, a record number of candidates filed for state offices this year. But because of his early return, Blunt will be back in time to oversee the August party primary elections.

He also will be able to lobby legislators, who with five weeks left in their session are considering one of Blunt's priorities -- a package of changes to the state's election laws.

Blunt is the son of U.S. Rep Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who was Missouri's secretary of state from 1985 through 1992.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, the younger Blunt served as an engineering officer aboard the frigate USS Jack Williams. He later spent two years as a navigator and administrative officer on the destroyer USS Peterson.

He was involved in the United Nations blockade of Haiti, the interdiction of Cuban migrants and anti-drug missions off South America.

After his original Navy service, Blunt served a single term in the Missouri House before winning his first statewide race for secretary of state.

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