[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E479-E480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO LT. COL. WILLIAM JOHN NICHOLS, U.S. AIR FORCE

                                 ______


                           HON. LARRY COMBEST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 28, 1996

  Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the dedication, public 
service, and patriotism of Lt. Col. William John Nichols, U.S. Air 
Force, on the occasion of his retirement after a career of faithful 
service to our Nation. Col. John Nichols' strong commitment to 
excellence will leave a lasting impact on the vitality of our modern 
warfighters, commanding admiration and respect from his military 
colleagues and Members of Congress.
  Colonel Nichols, a 1977 graduate of Cornell University and the 
Reserve Officer Training Corps, is serving his last day of a 15-month 
assignment as the special assistant for space, command, control, 
communications, and intelligence, and special operations programs, with 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative 
Affairs.
  Colonel Nichols' first duty assignment was to the 6931st Electronic 
Security Squadron, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece, as a flight 
commander, from April 1978 through July 1980. John was then sent to 
Osan Air Base, Korea, where he headed intelligence collection 
operations in support of U.S. Forces in Korea. He was also responsible 
for U-2 intelligence collection operations during this 1-year remote 
assignment. In August 1981, John was reassigned to Headquarters 
Electronic Security Command in San Antonio, TX, where he managed 
tactical intelligence collection assets. Next Colonel Nichols was 
assigned to 13th Air Force at Clark Air Base, Philippines, from January 
1983 to October 1984, where he was responsible for electronic combat 
programs throughout the Pacific region. In this capacity, John 
orchestrated the first ever involvement of electronic combat and 
intelligence assets into Cope Thunder air combat training exercises.
  Colonel Nichols was next assigned as detachment commander for the 
6947th Electronic Security Squadron in Key West, FL, where he led a 70-
person intelligence operation providing key support to operations in 
the Caribbean Basin. After almost 3 years in this position John was 
assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England, in July 1987 as the operations 
officer for the 6988th Electronic Security Squadron. In this job he led 
a 200-person RC-135 airborne reconnaissance operation in support of 
theater and national intelligence collection requirements. In July 
1990, he was reassigned to Air University in Alabama where he was a 
distinguished graduate and top performer at Air Command Staff College 
and where he earned a master of airpower art and science degree as a 
student in the first class of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies.

  In July 1992, Colonel Nichols was assigned to the intelligence staff 
at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon. He quickly moved to the 
Air Force Secretariat where he was assigned to the Office of 
Legislative Affairs. After serving for a year and a half in this 
capacity he moved to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs where he ably represented the Department of Defense 
on important intelligence issues until his retirement today. John's 
support of the Congress and in particular to the House Permanent Select

[[Page E480]]

Committee on Intelligence, which I chair, has been commendable. We 
understand the importance of the challenges imposed by legislative 
liaison. Colonel Nichols met them with frankness and aplomb. His 
expertise will truly be missed.
  Colonel Nichol's military awards include the Defense Superior Service 
Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial 
Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force 
Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the South West 
Asia Service Medal with campaign star, and several unit commendations 
and service ribbons. John is married and resides with his wife Wil and 
daughters Sarah and Rachel In Woodbridge, VA.
  Our Nation, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, and his 
family can truly be proud of the colonel's many accomplishments. A man 
of extraordinary talent and integrity is rare indeed. While his 
honorable service will be genuinely missed in the Department of 
Defense, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Col. John Nichols 
before my colleagues and wish him all of our best wishes in his new and 
exciting career.

                          ____________________