[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S8007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COLONEL ROBERT L. SMOLEN, U.S. AIR FORCE

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as we debate the fiscal year 1997 
Department of Defense Appropriations bill, I hope my colleagues will 
take a moment to reflect on the enormous assistance we receive from the 
legislative liaison offices for the various branches of the Armed 
Forces.
  The men and women who serve in the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine 
Corps legislative liaison offices are a valuable link between Members 
of Congress and the Pentagon. These offices give us with the Pentagon's 
views on defense bills and specific amendments being considered on the 
Senate and House floors. They also provide timely answers to our 
questions and help educate us on a variety of defense issues. Moreover, 
they are instrumental in notifying us about actions affecting military 
installations or activities in our States or districts.
  South Dakota is the proud home to Ellsworth Air Force Base and the B-
1B bomber. As I have worked to promote Ellsworth and the B-1 over the 
years, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of the fine men 
and women who serve in the Air Force's Legislative Liaison offices. I 
must say that Maj. Gen. Normand E. Lezy, the Director of the Air 
Force's Legislative Liaison Office and Brig. Gen. Lansford E. Trapp, 
Jr., the Deputy Director, and their staff at the Pentagon, have been 
understanding, responsive and fair.
  The Air Force Legislative Liaison staff located in the Russell 
Building has also been very helpful to me on a number of matters that 
my staff and I have brought to their attention. They, too, perform a 
tremendous service for the Air Force and the U.S. Senate. Although we 
may at times take their assistance for granted, I know all my 
colleagues truly appreciate their hard work and dedication.
  I have been particularly impressed by Col. Robert L. Smolen, the 
Chief of the Air Force's Senate Liaison Office. Colonel Smolen is an 
extraordinarily gifted and dedicated officer whose military experiences 
in the United States and the Republic of Korea have made him an 
enormous asset to the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office. During 
the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with and get to know 
Colonel Smolen. He has been very helpful to me and to many of my 
colleagues in the Senate.
  Earlier this year, for instance, he devoted a great deal of time to 
arranging a congressional delegation trip for me, Senator Hatch and 
Senator Reid. General Trapp and Colonel Smolen graciously accompanied 
us on our trip to the former Yugoslavia. Despite difficult 
circumstances, it was a very successful and informative trip due in 
large part to their excellent preparation and assistance.
  Unfortunately for all of us in the Senate, Colonel Smolen is 
departing Washington for Oklahoma where he will be the new Air Base 
Wing Commander at Tinker Air Force Base. I have a great deal of respect 
and admiration for Colonel Smolen. I know he is scheduled to leave this 
week, and before he does, I would like to review some of the highlights 
of his distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force.
  Bob Smolen began his career in the Air Force in 1974 as a graduate of 
the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Program at Allegheny College 
in Meadville, PA. In what I would argue may have been his best 
assignment, he served at Ellsworth Air Force Base as an Airborne 
Missile Operations Officer in the 4th Airborne Command Control 
Squadron's 28th Bomber Wing from January 1977 to March 1979.
  Since then, Bob Smolen has served in a number of capacities for the 
Air Force in the United States and around the world. He served as an 
aide to the Commander in Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense 
Command in Colorado Springs, CO. He also served in Washington before as 
a Congressional Liaison Officer and Special Assistant to the Director 
of the Legislative Liaison Division in the Office of the Secretary in 
the early 1980's.
  Bob Smolen has also been a squadron and deputy air base commander. He 
served as the Deputy Commander for the 12th Air Base Group in Randolph 
Air Force Base in Texas from October 1989 to August 1991. He also 
served as the Commander of the 750th Support Squadron at Onizuka Air 
Force Base in California. In addition, he was the commander of the 51st 
Support Group at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea from May 1993 
to June 1995.
  After returning to the United States, Colonel Smolen served as the 
Chief of the Inquiry Division of the Air Force Office of Legislative 
Liaison from July 1995 to September 1995. Since then, he has been the 
Chief of the Air Force's Senate Liaison Office.
  Knowing of Colonel Smolen's previous assignments here and abroad, I 
am confident the Air Force made the right decision in selecting him to 
be the new 72nd Air Base Wing Commander at Tinker Air Force Base. I 
congratulate him on his new assignment and wish him, his wife Adriane, 
and their three children the very best.

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