[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LT. COL. JON T. ANDRE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 1997

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to pay tribute to 
Lt. Col. Jon T. Andre who, on January 31, 1997, retired from the U.S. 
Air Force after more than 24 years of dedicated service. During his 
distinguished career, Colonel Andre has served his country, the U.S. 
Air Force, and the community of McGuire Air Force Base with distinction 
and honor.
  Over the past 6\1/2\ years, Colonel Andre served at McGuire AFB in 
New Jersey. It has been during this period that I have gotten to 
personally know and appreciate Jon's professional integrity and always 
positive outlook. In 1993, Jon was assigned as McGuire's principal 
liaison officer during the emotional and often contentious base closure 
and realignment process. Jon excelled under an extremely delicate and 
difficult situation, deftly handling the demands placed on him by both 
Air Force Headquarters and the local community which sought to retain 
McGuire AFB. His earnest, forthright approach earned him praise by all 
who came in contact with Jon during this period.
  A native of Ludlow, MA, Colonel Andre entered the Air Force following 
his graduation from Holy Cross College in 1972. Although initially 
trained as an air weapons controller, Jon sought early in his career to 
work with people and improve the personal and professional 
relationships within the Air Force. Throughout his career, Colonel 
Andre has been involved with human relations and equal opportunity 
programs, gaining ever more responsibility and recognition with each 
promotion.
  By all accounts, Colonel Andre's involvement with personal 
development-personal relations programs was a perfect match. He 
repeatedly distinguished himself in this field, earning both individual 
as well as group honors. Specifically, Jon's accomplishments include 
having his office selected as the Tactical Air Command's Best Social 
Actions Programs for 2 consecutive years while assigned at Luke Air 
Force Base; selected as Instructor of the Year while serving as a 
weapons control instructor; and having his office recognized as the 
Best Major Command Social Actions Programs in the Air Force while 
assigned to Langley Air Force Base as the Chief of the Equal 
Opportunity and Treatment-Human Relations Education Branch.
  Colonel Andre and his lovely wife, Patty, will begin a new career in 
Virginia where Jon will again use his communication and interpersonal 
skill as a human resources director for the historic Colonial 
Williamsburg Foundation. I know I speak for the entire McGuire 
community in wishing Jon and his family the very best as they leave the 
U.S. Air Force. I offer my personal thanks and the thanks of an 
appreciative nation as he begins a new chapter in his life.

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