[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CAROL DIBATISTE

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, It is an honor to take this 
opportunity to recognize Carol DiBattiste, under Secretary of the Air 
Force, who departed office last month. During her tenure, Under 
Secretary DiBattiste served with honor and distinction, providing 
exceptional leadership, and ensuring a promising future for the 
Department of Defense, the Air Force, and for American aerospace power.
  Under Secretary DiBattiste earned a respected reputation for her 
energy and enthusiasm, focused directly on improving quality of life 
for Air Force members and their families. She quickly became the Air 
Force's key leader in the fight against retention shortages and 
recruiting shortfalls; her successes in these endeavors are both 
impressive and renowned.
  Because of her immense talent and dedication, Under Secretary 
DiBattiste was selected to lead a special Department of Defense task 
force to formulate anti-harassment policy--an emotionally and 
politically charged subject. She delivered, as always, a brilliant 
solution, and then returned her sharp focus back to her visionary and 
aggressive campaign against recruiting shortfalls. The Air Force met 
its goals in recruiting last year mainly because of her visionary 
solutions to create an Air Force Recruiting and Retention Task Force, 
an Air Force Marketing and Advertising Office, and a Strategic 
Communications Outreach Program. Under Secretary DiBattiste is a leader 
we respect because she leads by example. In a short, 12-month stretch 
of time, she delivered almost 100 speeches; and she traveled to over 85 
bases and locations throughout the world during her tenure.
  Carol DiBattiste has set a high standard of leadership, commitment, 
energy, and service to country. I know my colleagues in Congress and 
our grateful nation join me in thanking her for her dedication and 
distinguished service to our country; and we wish her continued success 
in the future.

                          ____________________