[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E943-E944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRESS SALUTES BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD P. PETTIT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Brigadier 
General Donald P. Pettit, Commander of the 45th Space Wing in Florida, 
who will retire on July 31, 2002, after 32 years of distinguished 
service to the Air Force and his nation.
  For the past three years, Brigadier General Pettit has served as the 
Director of the Eastern Range responsible for the safe and secure 
access to space of America's manned and unmanned space vehicles. During 
this time, he achieved a perfect 70 for 70 launch record with many of 
the satellites deployed used to fight the war on terror and for 
scientific research to expand our knowledge of the universe.
  General Pettit entered the Air Force as an enlisted man during the 
Vietnam conflict and served four years as an aircraft electronics 
technician. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate from 
the University of Miami's Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1974.
  During his early years of service, he served as a Minuteman Missile 
Combat Crew commander and strategic missile planner. During tours at 
Headquarters, Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the Pentagon, he was 
instrumental in developing, acquiring and deploying the

[[Page E944]]

Peacekeeper (MX) Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) now at F.E. 
Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.
  As a field grade and general officer, he distinguished himself by 
serving in numerous capacities, including commanding a Minuteman ICBM 
squadron selected as ``Best in Strategic Air Command,'' and 
subsequently our nation's largest ICBM wing.
  As the Director of Plans and Programs at Headquarters, Air Force 
Space Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado, he created the command's 
Strategic Master Plan.
  While in Moscow, he negotiated with the Soviet Union ``The Reduction 
of Dangerous Military Activities Agreement.'' Since its 1989 signing, 
it has allowed Russian and American forces to operate in proximity to 
one another and precludes an involuntary act or miscalculation by 
either military force--whether land, air or sea--to escalate into a 
combat or war situation.
  Brigadier General Pettit's final command was at the 45th Space Wing, 
overseeing America's eastern space launch range. The Eastern Range 
encompasses a 15 million square mile area.
  Brigadier General Pettit's education accomplishments include an 
undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, Master of Arts 
degree from Pepperdine University, and graduating from the Marine and 
Air Force command and staff colleges and the Air War College.
  His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense 
Superior Service Medal, and Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medal 
with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two 
oak leaf clusters.
  Brigadier General Pettit is married to the former Carol Worley, of 
Miami, Fla., and they have a son Michael, a 2002 University of Colorado 
graduate.
  I am honored to rise in support of General Pettit's service to our 
nation, and I am proud of his commitment to the cause of liberty and 
freedom.

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