[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIREMENT OF AMBASSADOR DAVID COLSON

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I take the floor today to pay tribute to a 
distinguished civil servant, Ambassador David A. Colson. Ambassador 
Colson is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans in the Bureau of Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. He will retire 
from 25 years of Government service on August 2; his departure is a 
loss to the Department of State and a loss to our country.
  Dave Colson's career is an exemplar of public service. In 1966, he 
graduated from college and joined the Peace Corps, serving for 2 years 
as a teacher in Liberia. Thereafter, he enlisted in the United States 
Marine Corps. Upon completion of his tour of duty in 1971, he returned 
to law school. In 1975, he began working for the Department of State, 
the organization which has enjoyed the benefits of his efforts ever 
since.
  Dave progressed rapidly up the career ladder at State. First as 
Attorney-Adviser, then as Assistant Legal Adviser, and finally as 
Deputy Assistant Secretary. He received a career appointment to the 
Senior Civil Service after only six years working in the Legal Advisers 
office. Since 1991, he has served with the rank of Ambassador.
  Mr. President, those are titles and ranks. They are impressive, but 
they speak little to Dave's accomplishments and service to our country. 
The true measure of his contributions lies in the body of international 
law that he leaves behind and the people whose lives are better because 
of his work. In these areas, his achievements are legion.
  At the Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador Colson is best known 
for his expertise in the area of living marine resources. In the past 
three Congresses, he appeared before our Committee to testify on 
numerous marine resource treaties. Each of these advanced the interests 
of the United States and its citizens. Each of them improved the 
conservation of in the world's marine resources. Each of them developed 
further the framework of international law that governs the use of 
ocean space. And each of them was brought about either in large or 
partial measure through Ambassador Colson's efforts.
  Dave Colson's accomplishments are not, however, confined to living 
marine resources. As Deputy Assistant Secretary for the OES Bureau at 
the State Department, he has been extensively involved in a variety of 
issues including the Law of the Sea Convention, the London Dumping 
Convention, a number of maritime boundary negotiations, navigation 
issues, and a range of matter associated with the Arctic and Antarctic.
  Simply put, Dave Colson became one of the leading experts in the 
world on oceans. He is to be commended for his invaluable and lasting 
contributions. I wish him all the best as he embarks on this new phase 
of his life.

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