[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 102 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL STEVEN DOUGLAS JACQUES, USAF

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the dedication, 
public service, and patriotism of Lieutenant Colonel Steven Douglas 
Jacques, United States Air Force, on the occasion of his retirement 
after over twenty years' of faithful service to our nation. Colonel 
Jacques' strong commitment to excellence will leave a lasting impact on 
the vitality of our nation's Space and Intelligence capabilities, 
commanding the admiration and respect of his military and civilian 
colleagues.
  The son of a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Steve received 
his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps 
program while attending Texas Tech. He was first assigned at the Space 
and Missiles Systems Organization (SAMSO), Los Angeles AFS, CA in 1977, 
where he served as financial manager for the Expendable Space Launch 
Vehicles Program.
  In 1981, Steve was assigned to HQ Systems Command, Andrews AFB, MD, 
as Budget Officer for Space Programs. In 1983, he was transferred to 
Headquarters, United States Air Force, Pentagon, as the Program Element 
Monitor for the Expendable Launch Vehicles programs. During this time, 
the Department reversed its policy and determined that placing sole 
reliance on the Space Shuttle for access to space for military 
satellites presented an unacceptable national security risk. 
Consequently, new ELV programs were created, and Steve became the Air 
Force's first Titan IV ``PEM.''
  Following his Pentagon tour, Steve was transferred back to Los 
Angeles AFB in 1985, where he was assigned as Deputy Program Control 
Director for Expendable Launch Vehicles. Months after Steve's arrival, 
the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger stimulated the nation's 
``Space Launch Recovery,'' in which the Defense Department determined 
its satellites would eventually be removed from the shuttle and placed 
back on ELVs for launch. Steve led the efforts in costing and packaging 
the $10 billion Space Launch Recovery, which was fully approved by the 
Department and the Congress.
  In 1988, Steve returned to the Pentagon, serving in the Special 
Programs Division of the Directorate for Space Programs, Assistant 
Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Following duty as Executive 
Officer to the Director of Space Programs, Steve was assigned to the 
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Legislative Liaison in 1991, 
where he served as the Air Force's liaison officer to the Congress for 
all Space Programs.
  During the winter and spring of 1994, Steve attended the Defense 
Systems Management College at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, receiving his 
Level III certification in Program Management. Following school, Steve 
was assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office, where he first 
served as Director of Program Control for a classified program, and 
later as the SIGINT and Launch Comptroller. While serving as 
Comptroller, Steve played a formidable leadership role during the NRO's 
``forward funding'' recovery.
  In 1996, Steve began his final assignment in the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, where he served 
as Special Assistant for Space, Intelligence, and Special Programs. In 
this capacity, he represented the Secretary of Defense on a myriad of 
important and sensitive matters with the U.S. Congress, most notably 
the tragic Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, legislation forming 
the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, and a number of highly 
classified issues.
  Colonel Steve Jacques' military awards include the Defense Superior 
Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force 
Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
  Mr. President, our nation, the Department of Defense, the United 
States Air Force, and Lieutenant Colonel Steve Jacques' family--his 
wife Debbie and daughters Tracy and Amy--can truly be proud of this 
outstanding officer's many accomplishments. While his honorable service 
will be genuinely missed in the Department of Defense, it gives me 
great pleasure to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Steve Jacques before my 
colleagues and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

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