[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 105 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL KEVIN ``SPANKY" KIRSCH, USAF

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Lieutenant 
Colonel Kevin ``Spanky'' Kirsch, United States Air Force, on the 
occasion of his retirement after over twenty years of exemplary service 
to our nation. Colonel Kirsch's strong commitment to excellence will 
leave a lasting impact on the vitality of our nation's military 
procurement and information technology capabilities. His expertise in 
these areas will be sorely missed by his colleagues both in the 
Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
  Before embarking on his Air Force career, Colonel Kirsch worked as an 
estimator/engineer for Penfield Electric Co. in upstate New York, where 
he designed and built electrical and mechanical systems for commercial 
construction. In 1978, Colonel Kirsch received his commission through 
the Officer Training School at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. Eagerly 
traveling to Williams AFB in Arizona for flight training, Colonel 
Kirsch earned his pilot wings after successful training in T-37 and T-
38 aircraft.
  In 1980, Colonel Kirsch was assigned to Carswell AFB, in Fort Worth, 
TX, as a co-pilot in the B-52D aircraft. While serving in this capacity 
on nuclear alert for the next five years, he earned his Masters degree, 
completed Squadron Officer School and Marine Corps Command and Staff 
School by correspondence, and earned an engineering specialty code with 
the Civil Engineering Squadron.
  An experienced bomber pilot serving with the 7th Bomb Wing, Colonel 
Kirsch, then a First Lieutenant, served as the Resource Manager for the 
Director of Operations--a position normally filled by an officer much 
more senior in rank. He was selected to the Standardization Evaluation 
(Stan-Eval) Division and became dual-qualified in the B-52H. 
Subsequently, he was selected ahead of his peers to be an aircraft 
commander in the B-52H.
  Colonel Kirsch was selected in 1985 as one of the top 1% of the Air 
Force's captains to participate in the Air Staff Training (ASTRA) 
program at the Pentagon. His experience during that tour, working in 
Air Force contracting and legislative affairs, would serve him well in 
later assignments.
  In 1986, Colonel Kirsch returned to flying in the FB-111 aircraft at 
Plattsburgh AFB, NY. He joined the 529th Bomb Squadron as an aircraft 
commander and was designated a flight commander shortly thereafter. He 
employed his computer skills to help automate the scheduling functions 
at the 380th Bomb Wing and was soon designated chief of bomber 
scheduling.
  Following his tour with the 529th, Colonel Kirsch was assigned to 
Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters at Offutt AFB, NE. As Chief of 
the Advanced Weapons Concepts Branch, he served as a liaison with the 
Department of Energy on nuclear weapons programs and worked on 
development of new strategic systems--including the B-2 bomber. Colonel 
Kirsch was one of four officers chosen to be part of the commander-in-
chief's (CINC's) staff group to facilitate the transition of SAC to 
Strategic Command (STRATCOM). Originally picked as a technical advisor 
for weapon systems, he soon became the legislative liaison for 
STRATCOM. In this capacity, Colonel Kirsch organized congressional 
delegations to visit STRATCOM, and managed CINC STRATCOM's interaction 
with Capitol Hill.
  In 1994, Col Kirsch traveled here, to Washington, to begin his final 
assighment on active duty. Initially serving as a military assistant to 
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Colonel 
Kirsch once again quickly distinguished himself and was designated the 
special assistant for acquisition and C3 policy. Representing the 
Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 
and Technology and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for C3I, Colonel 
Kirsch managed a myriad of critical initiatives including acquisition 
reform and information assurance. He also served as the principal 
architect for the organization's web page, computer network, and many 
of the custom applications used to automate the office's administrative 
functions.
  Colonel Kirsch's numerous military awards include the Defense 
Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak 
Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force 
Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Force Achievement 
Award.
  Following his retirement, Colonel Kirsch and his wife Carol will 
continue to reside in Springfield, VA with their children Alicia and 
Benjamin.
  Mr President, our nation, the Department of Defense, the United 
States Air Force, and Lieutenant Colonel Kirsch's family can truly be 
proud of this outstanding officer's many accomplishments. His honorable 
service will be genuinely missed in the Department of Defense and on 
Capitol Hill. I wish Lieutenant Colonel Spanky Kirsch the very best in 
all his future endeavors.

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