[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 3 (Thursday, January 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 TRIBUTE TO DURWOOD W. RINGO, JR., PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER ON SENATE 
         ARMED SERVICES, UPON HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE COMMITTEE

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Col. Durwood 
W. Ringo, a member of my staff on the Armed Services Committee. Colonel 
Ringo, better known to all of us as ``Skip'', will be departing the 
committee to make his mark in the private sector.
  Mr. President, I have been a member of the Armed Services Committee 
for almost 35 years. During that period I have been supported by 
numerous dedicated and professional staffers. Skip Ringo is among the 
best in that group. He is known throughout the Senate as an expert on 
aviation matters and as an individual always ready to take that extra 
step to support not only the Armed Services Committee members, but also 
those members and staffers not on the committee.
  During his 5-year tenure on the Armed Services Committee, Colonel 
Ringo's expertise on defense programs was most helpful to me and the 
members of the committee when dealing with such critical defense 
matters as the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System; the T-45 
Alternative Engines; the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; the KC-135 Re-engine 
as well as the Advance Short Takeoff Vertical Land Strike Fighter 
programs. On several of these programs it was his willingness to 
challenge conventional wisdom and fight for the program. The outcome 
inevitably led to a better program and increased national security.

  Mr. President, prior to joining the Armed Services Committee, Colonel 
Ringo had a distinguished 23-year career as a Marine Corps aviator. I 
proudly want to point out that the foundation for his notable military 
career was laid at The Citadel in Charleston, SC, from which he 
graduated in 1967.
  During his 23 years in the Marine Corps Colonel Ringo served in 
numerous challenging assignments. He flew combat missions over North 
Vietnam as a member of the Marine Corps Composite Reconnaissance 
Squadron One. He graduated from the demanding Naval Test Pilot School 
in 1982 and subsequently was assigned to the strike aircraft test 
directorate at Patuxent River, MD. During his tour as a test pilot, he 
tested and proved the airworthiness of some of the Nation's most 
sophisticated aircraft. His expertise as a test pilot was recognized 
when he was chosen as a finalist for NASA's Shuttle Astronaut Program.
  Mr. President, without doubt, Colonel Ringo's most challenging 
assignments were his tours as the Marine Corps liaison officer to the 
U.S. Senate and, subsequently, as the Director of Senate Affairs for 
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. It was in 
these assignments that many of us first became acquainted with Skip 
Ringo's ability and dedication to the Nation.
  Mr. President, although Colonel Ringo's technical expertise can be 
replaced, it will be difficult to find an individual with Colonel 
Ringo's combination of wit, warmth and high regard for the men and 
women in our Armed Forces. I know I am joined by many in this Chamber 
in expressing our thanks to Colonel Ringo and in wishing him and his 
lovely wife, Patti, the best in their new endeavors.

                          ____________________