[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THOMAS E. BRUNK UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Thomas E. Brunk, upon his retirement 
from the Federal Government after 33 years of distinguished and 
dedicated service to Northern Virginia, our Nation, and the Department 
of Defense.
  Tom's career truly can be described as an American success story. Tom 
began his career as an young intern in Oklahoma, somewhat bewildered by 
the sights and sounds of the bustling air logistics center. Now, more 
than three decades later, he will end his career as a member of the 
Senior Executive Service and as the deputy director and the highest-
ranking civilian of the Defense Contract Management Agency, a worldwide 
organization of 12,000 employees responsible for ensuring that the 
supplies and materials going to our Military Services--our men and 
women in uniform--are delivered on-time and are of the highest quality. 
His contribution has been particularly notable over the last nine years 
as contingency contract management has been needed to support America's 
military deployments at locations around the world.
  Despite his relative youth, Tom quickly demonstrated exceptional 
managerial skills in support of major aerospace systems, including the 
B-2 aircraft and the Peacekeeper missile. With great vigilance and a 
strong sense of duty, he led operations reviews at dozens of major 
Defense contractors, and after having proved his mettle on the plant 
floor, steadily advanced to positions of increasing responsibility. In 
1990 he accepted an appointment to the Defense Department's principle 
contract-management organization, the Defense Contract Management 
Command. In this capacity, Tom has been a stalwart standard bearer in 
the Department's pursuit of acquisition excellence.
  The capstone of Tom's career came in March 2000, when he spearheaded 
the establishment of the Defense Contract Management Agency, a combat-
support organization responsible for the management of 310,000 
government contracts cumulatively valued at more than $100 billion. As 
deputy director since the agency's inception, Mr. Brunk has brought to 
bear his considerable managerial, technical, and interpersonal skills 
to ensure America's fighting forces receive the material support they 
need to protect and defend our nation. He has helped DCMA earn a place 
of prominence in the Department's technology revolution, as evidenced 
by his role in the development and deployment of the Standard 
Procurement System, a Department-wide purchasing and payment system 
that will replace a jumble outmoded and disparate programs that for 
years have bedeviled financial management with the Defense community.
  Whether it is on the flight line at an air logistics center in 
Oklahoma City, on the plant floor at a manufacturing plant in St. 
Louis, or at a negotiations table in the Nation's capital, Tom Brunk 
served with dignity, commitment, and integrity. On the occasion of his 
retirement from the Federal Civilian Service, I offer my 
congratulations and thanks to this long-time resident of Northern 
Virginia, and wish him and his wife, Sharon, well in their future 
pursuits.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to Mr. Brunk as he is 
recognized for his years of service to the Federal Government, the 
people of Northern Virginia and our nation He certainly has earned this 
recognition, and I call upon all of my colleague to join me in 
applauding this remarkable service.

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