[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 123 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10775-S10776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       BRIG. GEN. MICHAEL R. LEE

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the remarkable record 
of public service of Brig. Gen. Michael R. Lee, the commander of the 
440th Airlift Wing based on General Mitchell International Airport Air 
Reserve Station, Milwaukee, WI. General Lee is also responsible for the 
wing's subordinate groups, the 910th Airlift Group in Youngstown, OH, 
and the 928th Airlift Group in Chicago.
  He began his military career in the Reserve Officer Training Program 
at Oregon State University. There in 1963 he earned an undergraduate 
degree in business administration. After receiving his commission he 
went to James T. Connally Air Force Base in Texas where he completed 
his navigator training and went on to B-52 crew training at Castle Air 
Force Base in California. He then served until 1969 as a B-52 navigator 
at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington.
  While General Lee left active duty in 1969, he continued to serve his 
country as a pilot in the Air Force Reserve. At Hill Air Force Base in 
Utah he flew C-124 transports while working as a stock broker. General 
Lee began to move up through the chain of command taking on more 
responsibility and demonstrating his strong leadership skills. During 
his distinguished career he has served as chief of operations plans for 
the 940th Air Refueling Group in 1977, in 1981 he was transferred to 
Headquarters 4th Air Force at McClellan Air Force Base, CA, as the 
director of tactical aircraft.
  In 1986 General Lee received his first command as commander of the 
914th Tactical Airlift Group in Niagara Falls. He returned to McClellan 
Air Force Base in 1988 becoming the deputy chief of staff for 
operations at Headquarters 4th Air Force. He took command of the 445th 
Military Airlift Wing (Associate), at Norton Air Force Base in 
California and assumed his current position as commander of the 440th 
in Milwaukee in April of 1991. Recognizing his leadership skills and 
ability to earn the respect and best efforts of the men and women who 
serve under him, Mike Lee was promoted to the rank of brigadier general 
on August 12, 1992.
  General Lee is a highly decorated officer with more than 5,500 flying 
hours. His tireless service has earned him the Legion of Merit, 
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 
four oak leaf clusters, and an Air Force Commendation Medal. These 
honors are well deserved as the 440th, under General Lee's leadership, 
earned an unprecedented five awards, including Best Air Mobility Wing 
in 1993 at the Air Mobility Command's Worldwide Airlift Rodeo, and 
received his second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in its history.
  Perhaps his greatest achievement while he served at the 440th was 
saving the Air Reserve Station at General Mitchell International 
Airport, from being closed. Joining forces with the local community and 
political leaders, the men and women of the 440th succeeded in 
convincing the Base Closure and Realignment Committee that their base 
was too valuable to be closed. I had the pleasure of working with him 
in this effort and was impressed with his hard work, professionalism 
and his ability to build such a broad coalition of support from across 
the State on short notice.
  Unfortunately for the 440th he will be leaving us to become the 
commander of the Air Force Reserve 22d Air Force at Dobbins Air Force 
Base in Georgia. There he will lead more than 20,000 Reservists in 14 
States, control over 70 aircraft, 9 reserve wings, and 19 flying 
squadrons. He will be sorely missed in Wisconsin but he leaves behind 
one of the most capable and combat ready 

[[Page S 10776]]
forces in the Air Force Reserve. General Lee is moving on to new 
challenges and opportunities and I wish him, along with his new wife, 
all the luck in the world, and success in all his future endeavors.


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