[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 4 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE DEPARTURE OF DURWOOD W. (SKIP) RINGO, JR.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a professional staff 
member of the Armed Services Committee staff who will be departing next 
week after 5 years of diligent and valuable service to the committee.
  Col. Durwood W. Ringo, Jr., better known to all of us here in the 
Senate as ``Skip'', came to the committee on his retirement from the 
U.S. Marine Corps after a distinguished career as a marine aviator. 
Skip has since been a truly outstanding member of the professional 
staff of the Armed Services Committee responsible for all tactical 
aircraft programs. The advice and counsel he has provided members of 
our committee on these critical programs has been invaluable.
  Skip was well known throughout the Senate even prior to joining the 
committee in 1989. In his final assignments in the Marine Corps, Skip 
served as the Marine Corps liaison officer to the Senate and then as 
Director of Senate Affairs for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs. In these positions, Skip established a unique 
reputation for knowledge, ability and professionalism that led to his 
joining the Armed Services Committee as a professional staff member 
upon his retirement from the Marine Corps.
  Born and raised in Louisville, KY, Skip graduated with a degree in 
civil engineering from the Citadel in South Carolina in 1967. He was 
commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and in 1969, was designated a 
naval aviator. He then served a combat tour as a marine aviator in the 
Republic of Vietnam.
  Colonel Ringo graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1982 
and has served with distinction in several assignments involving the 
testing of tactical aviation systems from the Navy and the Marine 
Corps. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He 
was also a finalist for NASA's Shuttle Astronaut Program.
  Colonel Ringo holds both a master of engineering degree in industrial 
engineering from the University of Florida and a master of arts degree 
in national security and strategic studies from the College of Naval 
Warfare in Newport, RI.
  With his unique knowledge and expertise, Skip Ringo has originated 
and developed a number of initiatives which have contributed greatly to 
the evolution of tactical aviation for all the military services.
  As a result of Skip's efforts, the Advanced Short Takeoff Vertical 
Land Strike Fighter Program was created and, in fact, has become the 
centerpiece of the current Joint Advanced Strike Technology [JAST] 
Program.
  Skip drafted legislation which was included in the fiscal year 1993 
Defense Authorization Act to strengthen joint development programs. 
This legislation requires that a Defense Acquisition Board be convened 
to allow a military service to withdraw from a joint program and 
requires the service which is withdrawing to pay appropriate costs into 
the program in fairness to the other participating services. This 
legislation has provided discipline essential to joint programs and 
will save scarce defense dollars in the future.

  Skip was also instrumental in the establishment of the Defense 
Airborne Reconnaissance Office in the Department of Defense. This 
office ensures greater access to tactical intelligence for unit-level 
commanders and functions for tactical intelligence in the same way the 
National Reconnaissance Office functions for national intelligence.
  These are only a few of the numerous initiatives and programs that 
have been greatly enhanced as a result of Skip Ringo's diligent and 
dedicated efforts. Our military services and indeed the Nation, have 
truly benefited from his tenure on the Armed Services Committee.
  Mr. President, Skip Ringo is also very active in church and community 
affairs. He has served as a district chairman of the Boy Scouts of 
America and the Eagle Scouts Association of America. He is active in 
the Knights of Columbus and serves as a lector and lay minister in St. 
Bernadette's Catholic Church.
  Skip resides with his wife, Patty and two sons, Chip and Drew and his 
daughter, Brooken in Burke VA. This wonderful example of a truly 
outstanding military family now embarks on Skip's third career. Having 
served honorably in the Marine Corps for 22 years and as a key 
professional staff member on the Armed Services Committee for 5 years, 
Skip will now enter the private sector where I am sure he will continue 
his extraordinary record of success.
  There are few members of our staff here in the Senate who are as 
well-qualified in their respective fields as Skip Ringo. There are few 
who are as diligent and dedicated to excellence in their profession and 
there are none as well-liked and who have as many true and good friends 
as Skip. No matter how intense and focussed Skip became, he was never 
without a smile and a good word. He truly epitomizes the term 
``gentleman''.
  Skip Ringo will be greatly missed on our committee. I want to express 
my personal appreciation for his support and assistance to me, to the 
Senate and to the Nation and wish him great success in all his future 
endeavors.

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