[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E457-E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE RETIREMENT OF FORREST S. McCARTNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of Florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2001

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to say 
a few words thanking Forrest McCartney for his service to the nation. I 
have the privilege of representing Florida's Space Coast, and Forrest 
has been a tremendous part of our community for many years. But, more 
importantly, his contributions to our nation's space program are 
remarkable.
  Forrest retired on March 2 from his position as Lockheed Martin's 
chief of launch operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and 
Vandenberg Air Force Base, a fitting end to an illustrious career.
  Forrest McCartney was born in the town of Fort Payne, Alabama. He 
left rural Alabama to earn degrees in electrical engineering from

[[Page E458]]

Auburn and nuclear engineering from the USAF Institute of Technology.
  Over the decades, Forrest served his nation in many ways. He retired 
from the Air Force as a Lt. General, and moved on to serve as the 
Director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center from 1986 through 1991. In 
1994, he became a vice president for Lockheed Martin Astronautics in 
charge of space launch operations.
  His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service 
Medal, Legion of Merit and one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service 
Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He 
is the recipient of the General Thomas D. White Space Trophy and the 
Military Astronautical Trophy.
  McCartney is a member of the board of trustees for the Florida 
Institute of Technology and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree 
from that institution. He also received NASA's Distinguished Service 
Medal and is one of five recipients of the National Space Club's 
Goddard Memorial Trophy presented in March 1989. In 1991 he received 
the AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management and 
NASA's Presidential Rank Award. In 1992 he received the Debus award 
from the Space Club in Florida, and in 1993 he was the sole recipient 
of the Goddard Trophy.
  I think it's safe to assume that his wife and two daughters are very 
proud of their father. The State of Florida and the entire nation owes 
Forrest McCartney a debt of gratitude for his service.
  Forrest, on behalf of all of my colleagues in the U.S. Congress, we 
wish you well in your retirement.

                          ____________________