[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 138 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10689-S10690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING BARBARA ELY RITTER ON 30 YEARS' FEDERAL SERVICE WITH THE 
                     U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
congratulate an exceptional Federal employee and friend, Barbara Ely 
Ritter, who on October 18 of this year will complete 30 years of 
Federal service with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
  Mrs. Ritter is currently Chief of Budget Execution for the USFWS here 
in Washington, D.C. But her career extends back to 1971 when, as she 
tells it, as a newly arrived ``Cheechako'' in Anchorage, Alaska, 
confronting an extremely tight job market, she was faced with a choice 
between two career paths: night clerk in a liquor store or temporary 
clerk/typist with the USFWS. Fortunately for the Service and for the 
taxpayers, Mrs. Ritter chose the latter path.
  Thus began a career that has taken her from Alaska to New Mexico to 
North Carolina to Washington, D.C. to Oregon, and back again to Alaska 
and the District of Columbia. In each transfer Mrs. Ritter has moved 
into positions of greater and greater responsibility, establishing 
along the way a reputation for getting things done and done right. 
Indeed, she is known in the Service as one of the ``go-to'' people on 
budget matters. In addition, she has chosen to share her experience and 
knowledge with up-and-coming USFWS managers and budget specialists by 
mentoring and instructing prospective managers through the Service's 
``Stepping Up to Leadership'' program.
  She is a regular lecturer at the National Conservation Training 
Center in Shepardstown, WV, as well as co-developer of the NCTC's 
course of budget instruction. In addition, in her various management 
positions Mrs. Ritter has effectively implemented the Federal 
Government's oft-stated hiring goals of diversity and quality in its 
workforce. As an example, she personally led efforts to hire the first 
visually impaired employee in the USFWS Portland, OR, office--an 
employee who is, herself, coming up on 10 years' service with the 
USFWS.
  Our nation's future depends to a large degree on the quality and 
professionalism of the Federal employee. Oft-maligned unjustly, the 
Federal employee is the person who, ultimately, has to get the job done 
for America.

[[Page S10690]]

Barbara Ely Ritter's 30-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and her inspiring rise from temporary employee to division 
chief, stands as a vivid example of what our dedicated, hard-working, 
professional Federal employees are capable of.

                          ____________________