[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 2, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1828-H1829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL DANIEL WILLIAM CHRISTMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) is recognized for 5 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
service of Lieutenant General Daniel William Christman. General 
Christman will retire on June 30, 2001, after an outstanding career of 
more than 36 years of service in peace and in war to the Army and to 
our Nation.
  General Christman is currently serving out his final 2 months as 
superintendent of the United States Military Academy. In this capacity, 
General Christman charted the course for officer education into the new 
century. Under his guidance, the academy crafted a new mission 
statement, strategic vision, and new public-funding structure needed to 
enable the institution to compete and excel in an era of 
transformation.
  His assessment of current needs and insight of future possibilities 
has resulted in a revised academic curriculum and increased focus on 
the profession of officership. General Christman leaves a notably 
improved academy in terms of leadership facilities and morale.
  Prior to undertaking this role, General Christman has distinguished 
himself in numerous command and staff positions with U.S. forces 
stationed both overseas and in the continental United States.
  In Europe, his assignments included serving as the 19th U.S. 
representative to NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium, and 
Commander of the 54th Engineer Battalion in Wildflecken, Germany.
  In 1969, he commanded a company of the 101st Airborne Division in 
combat in Southeast Asia. General Christman occupied senior executive 
positions in Washington, D.C., requiring creative leadership and 
strategic vision. He served as a staff assistant with National Security 
Council in the Ford White House. Prior to his West Point assignment, he 
served as an assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
advising the Secretary of State on a broad range of military and 
national security issues such as arms control with the Russian 
Federation and the Middle East peace negotiations between Israel and 
Syria.
  In June 1996, General Christman became the 55th superintendent of the 
U.S. Military Academy. Through his tenure, he demonstrated an 
exceptional combination of intelligence, character, and positive 
personality notable even in this highly selective environment. From the 
outset, he sought the comments and insight of graduates, the academy, 
and even the neighboring community to give them a closer identification 
with and support for the institution and decisions that were ultimately 
made.
  Development of a more cooperative and positive environment has been 
the hallmark of his superintendency.
  General Christman arrived at West Point at a time of significant 
financial constraints. Severe cutbacks to the Army budget had seriously 
affected both programs and infrastructure at the academy. He undertook 
strenuous efforts to obtain the critical funding support for an 
institution that was behind not only other colleges but also many Army 
posts. Through his efforts and the support of the Army staff, he gained 
pledges for the funding necessary to restore the institution to a 
competitive sustainment level necessary to encourage officers and 
soldiers to serve at West Point and to attract high-quality young 
cadets to embark upon a career of service to the Army.
  At the same time, he tirelessly dealt with the Department of Defense 
and Members of Congress to make the case for critical funding for West 
Point. The successful completion of Arvin Gym will be of great credit 
to Dan Christman.
  In concert with his desire to prepare the institution for the next 
century, he revised the institution's formal mission statement to a 
more comprehensive expression of its foundation and objectives. His 
leadership was also instrumental in establishment of the William E. 
Simon Center. The center will promote the study of the professional 
military ethic in the Army and nationally. This project is but one 
example of General Christman's efforts to enlist the skills, talents, 
and character of the West Point community for a broader national 
purpose.
  He leaves a notably improved academy in terms of leadership, 
facilities, and morale. The military, academic, physical and moral/
ethical development of programs at the academy have never been stronger 
and never been more connected to the Army. With his actions, General 
Christman has set the course for officer education into the first half 
of the new century.
  A consummate professional, General Christman's performance of duty 
during his long illustrious career exemplifies the finest traits of 
duty, honor, and country. His service reflects a deep commitment to 
West Point, the Army, and to our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking General 
Daniel Christman for his honorable service to the citizens of the 
United States of America. I wish him, his lovely and intelligent wife, 
Susan, and their children continued success and happiness in all of 
their future endeavors.
  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional 
United States Army officer, Lieutenant General Daniel W. Christman. 
Next, month, General Christman completes a highly successful five year 
assignment as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, 
West Point, New York. It is a pleasure for me to recognize a few of his 
many outstanding achievements.
  A native of Hudson, Ohio, General Christman graduated first in his 
class from the United States Military Academy in 1965. He holds 
master's degrees in civil engineering and public affairs from Princeton 
University and a law degree from George Washington University. He is 
also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the 
National War College. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and 
Washington, D.C. Bars and he is also a member of the Council on Foreign 
Relations.
  General Christman's major command assignments include serving as the 
nineteenth United States Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium (1993-94); 
Commanding General, United States Army Engineer Center and Fort Leonard 
Wood, and Commandant, United States Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard 
Wood, Missouri (1991-93); Commander of the Savannah District, United 
States Army Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Georgia (1984-86); 
Commander of the 54 Engineer Battalion in Wildflecken, Germany (1980-
82); Company Commander in the 326th Engineer Battalion, Hue, Vietnam 
(1969-70); and Company Commander, 2nd Engineer Battalion, Changpo-Ri, 
Korea (1966).
  His major staff assignments involved service as a Staff Officer in 
the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of 
the Army, Washington, D.C. (1976-78) and as a Staff Assistant with the 
National Security Council, The White House (1975-76). In both of these 
assignments, General Christman was responsible for advising the Army 
Chief of Staff and senior staff on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks 
(SALT). Further, he was called upon to testify before the House Select 
Committee on Intelligence regarding Soviet compliance with earlier arms 
control agreements.
  General Christman served for 21 months as Assistant to the Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John M. Shalikashvili (1994-96). 
In this capacity, he supported Secretary

[[Page H1829]]

of State Warren Christopher as a member of the Middle East Peace 
Negotiating Team and in arms control negotiations with the Russian 
Federation. Additionally, General Christman served for a year and a 
half as Army adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Admiral William J. Crowe, and then as Assistant to the Attorney General 
of the United States for National Security Affairs.
  General Christman also served as Director of Strategy, Plans and 
Policy in the Department of the Army Headquarters, Washington, D.C. His 
duties in this assignment focused on negotiations relating to the 
Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) arms control talks between the NATO 
and the Warsaw Pact. In the course of supporting these negotiations on 
behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, General Christman briefed former President Bush and 
traveled to Europe to brief allied heads of state and the NATO 
Secretary General. He has also been called upon to testify before the 
Congress on CFE initiatives, as well as on other topics relating to our 
NATO commitments and Army force structure.
  On June 24, 1996, Lieutenant General Daniel W. Christman arrived for 
duty as the 55th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy 
at West Point. In this capacity, he was charged with educating, 
training, and inspiring the Corps of Cadets, so that each graduate is a 
commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, 
honor, and Country; professional growth throughout a career as an 
officer in the United States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service 
to our Nation.
  Among his military decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service 
Medal (two awards), Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Defense 
Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star Medal 
(two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and the Air Medal 
(three awards).
  Mr. Speaker, Dan Christman has come to epitomize those qualities that 
we as a Nation have come to expect from our Army--absolutely impeccable 
integrity and character, as well as professionalism. He has served our 
Country with distinction for the past 36 years, and he has demonstrated 
a dedication to duty that is in keeping with the highest standards and 
proud traditions of the Armed Forces of our Nation. As he moves into 
new endeavors, I call upon my colleagues from both sides of the aisle 
to wish him and his lovely wife, Susan, much continued success.

                          ____________________