[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN ROBERT D. MULLINS, U.S. NAVY

  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise today on behalf of the people of 
the State of Hawaii, to express our gratitude to Capt. Robert D. 
Mullins, who is retiring from active duty in the U.S. Navy after 26 
years of distinguished service.
  Capt. Robert Mullins started his naval career as a flight instructor 
at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy 
at Annapolis in 1969, and receiving his wings in 1971. His first 
operational assignment was with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 29 at NAS 
North Island, CA. While there, he participated in the first operational 
deployment of the S-3A Viking to the Western Pacific aboard the U.S.S. 
Enterprise.
  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1977, and 
served as engineering test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center until 
1980. Captain Mullins was one of the first test pilots to perform out-
of-control and spin flight testing on the T-34C training aircraft. 
During this time he also earned a MS degree in systems management from 
the University of Southern California.
  His next assignment took him to NAS Cecil Field, FL, where Capt. 
Mullins served as safety officer, and subsequently operations officer, 
during deployments to the Indian Ocean and Eastern Mediterranean aboard 
the U.S.S. Independence. He was named VS Wing One's ``Tailhooker of the 
Year'' in 1981 and ``Top Hook'' in Carrier Air Wing 6 in 1982.
  Upon returning to Maryland in January of 1983 as chief flight 
instructor at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Capt. Mullins rewrote 
the test flight syllabus and managed the training curriculum. He 
assumed command of the ``Attack Frogs'' in 1987. During his command 
tour, his squadron received the CNATRA Golden Anchor Award for 
retention and the Towers Award for aviation safety excellence.
  In 1989, Captain Mullins was selected to attend the Defense Systems 
Management College at Fort Belvoir, VA. After completing the program 
managers course, he reported to Washington, DC, where he served as 
assistant program manager for systems and engineering at Naval Air 
Systems Command. It was here that he received his first Meritorious 
Service Medal for his management of system upgrades to the S-3B 
airplane, and the engineering development of a new aircraft, the ES-3A 
Shadow.
  In 1991, Capt. Mullins assumed command of the Pacific Missile Range 
Facility [PMRF] at Barking Sands on the Island of Kauai. Under his 
command, PMRF was the first recipient of the Commander, Naval Base 
Pearl Harbor ``Good Neighbor Award'' and was singled out from among 50 
Hawaii commands as winner of the Personal Excellence Partnership of the 
Year Award in 1993.
  Hurricane Iniki devastated the Island of Kauai in 1992. The personnel 
at PMRF were among the first to offer their expert services and perform 
relief tasks for the people of Kauai. For their dedication to the Kauai 
community, PMRF personnel received the ``Humanitarian Service Medal'' 
for post hurricane work on Kauai.
  Under the leadership of Capt. Mullins, PMRF was awarded two Golden 
Anchor Awards for retention. Capt. Mullins earned his second 
Meritorious Service Medal, and was named as the Honolulu Council, Navy 
League of the United States, ``Military Man of the Year'' in 1993.
  Capt. Robert Mullins has shown a tremendous dedication to his 
country, to the Navy and to the people of Hawaii. As he leaves his 
command at PMRF, he will be sorely missed. However, Capt. Mullins will 
remain a familiar face to all Kauai residents, as he and his wife 
Madeline will be retiring to Kalaheo, Kauai.
  We, the people of Hawaii, would like to express our deep gratitude to 
Capt. Robert Mullins for his leadership of PMRF, his dedicated service 
to our country, and his involvement in the Kauai community. We wish him 
and his family the very best for the future, and welcome them to the 
civilian Kauai community with open arms.

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