[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES S. FURCA

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 1994

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Charles S. Furca has served as Civilian 
Executive Assistant [CEA] of the Tooele Army Depot [TEAD] complex from 
June 1981 through August 1994. Headquartered at Tooele Army Depot near 
Tooele, UT, the complex comprises six sites in four States, and employs 
over 2,300 personnel. As the highest level civilian at TEAD for the 
last 13 years, Mr. Furca has been the constant at the complex through 
seven commanders. His continued dedication and loyalty exemplifies the 
highest ideals and standards of public service.
  During his tenure as CEA, Mr. Furca was key in administering an 
annual operating budget of $191 million, and was held responsible for 
67 percent of the Department of Defense's stockpile of toxic chemical 
munitions. Under Mr. Furca's management, the TEAD complex remained 
responsive, flexible, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective. 
He has been adamant that customers' stringent quality and schedule 
needs be met, and has demanded assurance that dollars spent were fully 
justified and used wisely.
  Mr. Furca was personally involved in the design and construction of 
TEAD's consolidated maintenance facility, a state-of-the-market 
automated overhaul facility. Due in large measure to his actions, the 
$37 million building was completed on time and within projected costs--
a rare feat these days--and the $74 million equipment contract was 
reduced by over $650 thousand with no degradation of required 
performance.
  Under Mr. Furca's management, TEAD continued its enviable record in 
the environmental arena. The State of Utah praised the depot for 
running the best environmental management program of any Federal 
installation in the State. TEAD was also recognized by the Director of 
Army Safety with a special award of excellence for its proactive safety 
programs, and has won the Department of Defense's Value Engineering 
Award 5 straight years in a row with $63 million saved.
  Mr. Furca is a man of tested ability, sound judgement, and keen 
perception. He has performed his official duties with unswerving 
integrity and fearless determination. His forthright, frank, and honest 
attitude in relation to governmental matters makes him a public servant 
to be emulated by others. Time after time, he lead the efforts to make 
changes to the way the Government does business when the situation 
warranted. An example of this was his involvement in the development of 
official policy to utilize the Army Arsenal Act allowing depots to 
compete in manufacturing supplies for the Army. Mr. Furca led the 
efforts to design and manufacture a high-mobility trailer that the Army 
used as a pilot case for the Arsenal Act authority through the use of 
make-or-buy decisions, thus paving the way for depots to compete in the 
future.
  Mr. Furca's tenure at TEAD has also seen defense downsizing resulting 
in severe workload reductions and budget cutbacks, which has had a 
grave impact on the missions and workers at the depot. Through it all, 
Mr. Furca has provided guidance for closing one depot activity, 
downsizing three other depot activities, and resizing TEAD's workforce 
by cutting it nearly 40 percent to match funded workloads. Through TEAD 
has faced some of its greatest challenges during his administration, 
Mr. Furca never lost sight of the importance of employees' quality of 
life, with emphasis on the work environment, morale, and welfare of the 
people, and his actions have made this concern obvious.
  Mr. Furca's outstanding performance of duty is in keeping with the 
finest traditions of public service, and reflects great credit upon 
himself, Tooele Army Depot, and the U.S. Army. He is exceedingly well 
equipped for the office he will shortly assume at Sierra Army Depot, 
CA. Mr. Furca's sterling character, great ability, and integrity are 
assurances that he will carry on in a like manner within the U.S. Army 
Industrial Operations Command. It is no doubt that Mr. Charles S. 
Furca, who possesses such fine attributes of mind and heart, will enjoy 
a long, happy, and successful career at Sierra Army Depot, and that he 
will be a credit to his new organization, to his new friends, and to 
himself.

                          ____________________