[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN A. FLINN

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 10, 1995
  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated 
member of the federal financial management community upon his 
retirement as Director of Operations for the Department of Defense 
Comptroller after more than 30 years of service to his country. Mr. 
John A. Flinn is most deserving of our tribute. He has consistently 
demonstrated the qualities expected of our finest public servants. His 
efforts have been a primary factor in the effective formulation and 
presentation of the Department of Defense Operation and Maintenance 
budget for more than 20 years, and the fact that our military today is 
the finest it has ever been is in no small part due to his efforts.
  Mr. Flinn's Federal career commenced in 1961 with the Department of 
the Navy. He served in many responsible positions with the Navy before 
being selected to work in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 
1974. Since 1986, Mr. Flinn has served as Director of Operations, the 
primary DOD Comptroller interface with Congress and the Military 
Departments for the Military Personnel and Operation and Maintenance 
appropriations. His knowledge and expertise in operating budgets is 
unequaled in the Defense Department. During his 8 years as Director for 
Operations, he has gone beyond his regular duties to play a major role 
in the Department's transition to operations in a post-cold-war 
environment. The high esteem accorded Mr. Flinn by myself and my 
colleagues is reflected in the many times he was requested by name to 
testify before the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He always 
provided candid and accurate testimony.
  Mr. Flinn was the primary focal point within the Comptroller for 
developing budgets to support Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The 
unprecedented funding mechanism in which many nations provided both 
financial and in-kind resources, required the establishment of new and 
innovative approaches to meeting the service's funding requirements. 
Mr. Flinn was able to develop and implement this innovative funding 
mechanism because he had the respect and confidence of the Military 
Departments and our staff. Mr. Flinn's most enduring contribution, 
however, will always be his steadfast advocacy in support of our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to present the credentials of 
Mr. Flinn before the Congress today. It is clear that Mr. Flinn has 
played a key role in ensuring effective financial management for the 
Defense Department and for the taxpayers of the United States. We wish 
him success in his coming endeavors. He will be missed.


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