[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 152 (Friday, November 22, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2120-E2121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DUNCAN A. HOLADAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 22, 2002

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
honor Mr. Duncan Holaday upon his retirement after 35 years of devoted 
service in support of our great Nation. His last position was with the 
Department of the Navy, where he served as the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Facilities.
  Mr. Holaday was born on February 15, 1943 in Berkeley, CA. He 
graduated from Beloit College in 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree in 
philosophy. In 1976, he received a master of business administration 
degree from Syracuse University.
  Mr. Holaday began his Government service with the U.S. Army in 1967 
as a management intern. Following completion of his training, he spent 
the next 15 years as an operations research analyst with the Army, 
serving both in the Pentagon and in Europe as well as with the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Program Analysis and 
Evaluation. While in this position at OSD, Mr. Holaday was responsible 
for analyzing Army and Marine Corps force structure, force basing, 
military construction, and manpower requirements.
  From 1982 to 1987, Mr. Holaday served as a director in the office of 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations. It was 
there that he implemented the Model Installation Program, which was a 
highly successful test of the proposition that base commanders could do 
a better job of running their bases when freed of restraints imposed by 
headquarters. While at OSD, he also developed and implemented DOD-wide 
real property and base utilization policies.
  He later served as the Director of the Defense Acquisition Regulatory 
System under the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition between 
1987 and 1990. From 1990 to early 1993, he was the Executive Director 
of the Defense Ethics Council.
  After leaving the Office of the Secretary of Defense in April 1993 
and before joining the Department of the Navy in 1994, Mr. Holaday 
worked with then Vice President Al Gore on the National Performance 
Review, NPR. There, he was responsible for improving real property 
acquisition and management within the Federal Government and oversaw 
government-wide implementation of NPR recommendations for downsizing 
and streamlining the Federal workforce.
  In October, 1994, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy, Installations and Facilities. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
he was responsible for establishing policy and improving oversight on 
the Department of the Navy's acquisition, construction, use, 
management, operation, and disposal of real estate, facilities, and 
housing at Navy and Marine Corps bases worldwide.
  During the transition in administrations, between January and August, 
2001, he served as the Senior Civilian Official in the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment. As 
Senior Civilian Official, he was directly responsible to the Secretary 
of the Navy for the formulation of Department-wide policies and 
procedures, and for overseeing all Department of the Navy functions and 
programs relating to environmental protection; Navy and Marine Corps 
facilities and installations; housing; long-range basing and 
infrastructure requirements; and safety and occupational health for 
military and civilian personnel. In this role, he provided stability 
and continuity during the absence of three presidentially-appointed 
political appointees.
  His accomplishments throughout his career, and especially while 
serving in the Department of the Navy, are extraordinary. He has worked 
tirelessly to promote investment in the facilities where sailors and 
marines live, work, and train. He was at the forefront of the 
Department's efforts to improve military family housing through the 
innovative use of privatization authorities allowing partnership with 
the private sector. During his stewardship, the Department of the Navy 
was able to realize over $600 million in investment in Navy and Marine 
Corps family housing, using only slightly over $100 million of its own 
resources.

[[Page E2121]]

  To every problem and challenge he has faced, he has brought keen 
insight and attention to detail that has enabled thoughtful solutions. 
He demonstrated extraordinary environmental stewardship in successfully 
shepherding the transfer of land on the western end of Vieques within 
the timeframes specified by law. He has successfully engaged in the 
extremely complicated task of negotiations and agreements, allowing the 
Department to convey base closure property for redevelopment by local 
communities.
  Mr. Holaday has left a remarkable legacy. The hallmark of his 
service, throughout his career, has been improved living and working 
conditions for the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who serve our 
country so bravely, day after day. He has been steadfast in his service 
to this great nation and his devotion to those with whom he has served. 
His superb performance has won him countless awards, including the 
Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2001. His leadership will be 
sorely missed. I for one am extremely grateful that he chose to enter 
public service.
  I wish to recognize and thank him for his honorable service and would 
like to join with his many friends and colleagues, both within the 
executive branch and here in Congress, in wishing him fair winds and 
following seas as he and his wife, Mary Margaret, and son, Duncan, 
continue forward in what most assuredly will remain a life of service 
to this great Nation.

                          ____________________