[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3424-S3425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL ROOSEVELT ``TED'' MERCER, JR., COMMANDANT, 
                       JOINT FORCES STAFF COLLEGE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment today to 
recognize one of the finest officers in the United States Air Force, 
Brigadier General Roosevelt ``Ted'' Mercer, Jr. On May 9, 2002, General 
Mercer will become the Commandant of Joint Forces Staff College at the 
National Defense University in Norfolk, VA. He will be leaving the job 
as Commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB MS, a position he 
has held and executed with great pride, leadership, and honor. During 
his time at Keesler, as Commander of the 81st Training Wing, General 
Mercer personified the Air Force core values of integrity, service 
before self, and excellence in all things. Many Members and staff 
enjoyed the opportunity to meet with him on a variety of Air Force 
issues and came to appreciate his many talents. Today it is my 
privilege to recognize some of Ted's many accomplishments since he 
entered the military 27 years ago, and to commend the superb service he 
provided the Air Force, the Congress and our Nation.
  Ted Mercer entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training 
Corps program at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. While 
there, he completed his bachelor's degree in urban planning in 1975, as 
well as being a distinguished graduate of the university's ROTC 
program. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base 
in California, where he became proficient in Titan II missile combat 
crew operations, so much so that by 1980 he became an instructor in 
missile combat crew operations at Vandenberg.
  From early in his career, General Mercer's exceptional leadership 
skills were always evident to both superiors and subordinates as he 
repeatedly proved himself in numerous select command positions. He was 
the Commander of the 447th Strategic Missile Squadron at Grand Forks 
Air Force Base, North Dakota; Commander of the 45th Logistics Group at 
Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; and at Minot Air Force Base, North 
Dakota he was Commander of the 91st Operations Group. In June 1998, he 
assumed command of the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
California. As I've stated earlier, he superbly led the 81st Training 
Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi from September 2000 until 
May 2002.
  Ted Mercer also has excelled in a variety of key staff assignments. 
These include serving as Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters 
U.S. Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Vice Director 
of Plans, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Space Command at 
Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Chief, Nuclear Division, Directorate 
of Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, 
Germany; and Executive Officer, Directorate of Personnel Plans, Deputy 
Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington 
DC. General Mercer also served as Chief of Congressional Affairs, 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force in 
Washington DC, and has been awarded a Defense Superior Service Medal 
and Legion of Merit among other decorations.
  We were all pleased to see General Mercer selected as Commandant of 
the Joint Forces Staff College at the National Defense University in 
Norfolk, VA. I offer my congratulations to him,

[[Page S3425]]

his wife, Mike, and daughter, Sidnee, on this new assignment. The 
Congress and the country applaud the selfless commitment his entire 
family has made to the Nation in supporting his military career.
  I know I speak for all of my colleagues in expressing my heartfelt 
appreciation to General Ted Mercer. He is a credit to both the Air 
Force and the United States of America. We wish our friend the best of 
luck in his new command.

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