[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 121 (Tuesday, October 3, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S9698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL LEON A. EDNEY, U.S. NAVY, RETIRED

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional leader in recognition of a remarkable career of service to 
his country--Admiral Leon A. Edney, United States Navy, Retired.
  Admiral ``Bud'' Edney has amassed a truly distinguished record, 
including 35 years of commissioned service in the U.S. Navy uniform, 
that merits special recognition on the occasion of his retirement as 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Retired Officers Association 
(TROA).
  Born in Dedham, Massachusetts, he entered the Navy as an ensign in 
1957, following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy, 
and culminated his distinguished naval service with tours of duty as 
Vice Chief of Naval Operations and as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander 
and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command. He retired from 
active duty in August 1992.
  Admiral Edney has shown valor and leadership throughout his 35 years 
of dedicated military service to his country, and has been a positive 
role model for countless sailors in the process.
  His dedication to service and excellence has not diminished since 
leaving active duty, serving as a trustee of the Naval Academy 
Foundation and the Association of Naval Aviation. For two years, he 
also held the distinguished Professor of Leadership chair at the U.S. 
Naval Academy.
  Admiral Edney was elected to the board of directors of The Retired 
Officers Association in 1994. For the last two years, he served as 
TROA's chairman of the board, the position from which he is now 
retiring.
  Through his stewardship, The Retired Officers Association continues 
to play a vital role as a staunch advocate of legislative initiatives 
to maintain readiness and improve the quality of life for all members 
of the uniformed service community--active, reserve, and retired, plus 
their families and survivors.
  His tenure as chairman of TROA began simultaneously with my 
chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I am pleased 
to state that these two years have witnessed very substantial quality-
of-life enhancements for active, reserve, and retired service members 
and their families.
  Admiral Edney has been a strong supporter of the Senate Armed 
Services Committee's efforts toward improving long-term retention and 
readiness through a competitive compensation package for active and 
reserve forces, restoration of lifetime health care for retired 
personnel and their families, and enhancing protections for the 
survivors of deceased service members. Under his leadership, TROA has 
been an invaluable source of information that has proven of 
considerable utility in the committee's deliberations on a long list of 
compensation and benefits issues during this extraordinarily productive 
period.
  Admiral Bud Edney has been, in every sense of the word, a leader in 
the military, TROA, and the entire retired community. Our very best 
wishes go with him for long life, well-earned happiness, and continued 
success in service to his nation and the uniformed service members whom 
he has so admirably led and served.
  As a former Sailor and Marine, I offer Admiral Edney a grateful and 
heartfelt salute, and wish him ``fair winds and following 
seas.''

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