[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2069]]
             HONORING AIR FORCE SECRETARY SHEILA E. WIDNALL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 23, 1997

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the month, a distinguished 
leader of the Air Force will leave office and begin a new chapter in 
her life.
  Sheila E. Widnall, the first woman to serve as a service Secretary, 
will leave her position and I want to join her other friends and 
colleagues in commending her for a job well done.
  During her tenure, Dr. Widnall led the Air Force through a critical 
period of post-cold-war consolidation and modernization. She directed a 
time-phased modernization program to shape the future of the Air Force 
and further integrate space systems into military operations.
  Dr. Widnall championed the Department's revolution in business 
practices with unprecedented acquisition reform initiatives and 
outsourcing and privatization ventures which have assured that scarce 
taxpayer dollars are wisely spent. And, she helped lead the Nation's 
stewardship of space by partnering the Air Force with the National 
Reconnaissance Office, NASA, and the commercial space sector.
  Most notably, Dr. Widnall took care of the individuals who serve in 
the Air Force. She focused on core values of respect and dignity, 
assured opportunity for men and women, and pursued tirelessly quality 
of life issues during a period of personnel reductions and increasing 
operations temp. She made tough, but courageous decisions during her 4-
year tenure, particularly a recent one involving Air Force Lt. Kelly 
Flynn.
  A sailor, jogger, and friend, I regret that I was not able to join 
Sheila on a trip we often discussed--a transcontinental flight aboard a 
C-17 cargo plane--an Air Force procurement we both worked to reform and 
save.
  I join my colleagues on behalf of a grateful nation in thanking Dr. 
Widnall and her husband, Bill. Dr. Widnall set a high standard of 
leadership and vision, and has prepared the U.S. Air Force for the 
challenges of the 21st century.

                          ____________________