[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1363-S1364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RETIREMENT OF MAJOR GENERAL GORDON E. STUMP, 
            ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, January 31 of this year will be the 
last day that MG Gordon E. Stump serves as the head of the Michigan 
National Guard. This will bring to a close the tenure of the longest 
serving adjutant general in the Nation. For 12 years, GEN Stump has 
embodied the pride, professionalism and dedication that is the hallmark 
of the citizen soldiers of the National Guard.
  Increasingly, our Nation's military relies on the men and women of 
the National Guard and Reserve to serve seamlessly alongside of our 
active duty military. The ability of these citizen soldiers to pick up, 
leave their families and serve where they are needed is a tribute to 
them and to the ability of

[[Page S1364]]

their leadership to prepare them for service. It is because of the 
dynamic leadership and vision of men and women like GEN Stump that our 
National Guard is able to operate with such professionalism.
  Since I have had the pleasure of first working with GEN Stump, I have 
witnessed a man who had a clear vision for the future of the Michigan 
National Guard. To that end, he has tirelessly worked to improve the 
tools available to the soldiers under his command. He has worked to 
improve their hardware, facilities and training opportunities, and he 
has achieved success in each of these efforts. Today, the Michigan Army 
Guard possesses the UH-60 Black Hawk instead of the Vietnam era Huey 
Cobra helicopter. Additionally, airlift capacity has been enhanced with 
the addition of C-130 aircraft, F-16s have been upgraded with the 
addition of Litening targeting pods, and the Multiple Launch Rocket 
System is now available for use by the soldiers of the Michigan 
National Guard.
  In just over a decade, GEN Stump has upgraded Michigan's Guard 
facilities by securing $179 million in military construction funds that 
have been used for 32 projects throughout Michigan. Among these 
facilities is Selfridge Air National Guard Base, ANGB, a unique base 
because it is the only Air National Guard facility in the United States 
with all the branches of the service represented on the base. This is 
also the base where GEN Stump maintained his aeronautical skills and 
became qualified as an F-16 pilot.
  Under GEN Stump's leadership, Michigan became one of 23 States to 
participate in the Department of Defense's State Partnership program 
that paired States with nations that were once part of the former 
Soviet Union. These partnerships sought to teach the militaries of 
these nations about the standards required by members of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.
  GEN Stump worked to develop the Michigan Youth Challenge program, a 
program that works with at-risk youth enabling them to earn their 
general equivalency diploma while enabling them to develop the skills 
needed to succeed in life. Additionally, GEN Stump was able to work 
with the State of Michigan to initiate a program with 18 colleges and 
universities in the State that coupled with the Montgomery GI Bill, 
virtually guarantees a free education for Michigan guard members. These 
programs have resulted in a manning increase from 84 percent to over 99 
percent for the Michigan National Guard.
  All of these efforts have paid important dividends for Michigan and 
the Nation. The Michigan National Guard has participated in over 10 
Department of Defense missions including Operations Desert Shield, 
Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Noble Eagle, and Enduring Freedom. Forces 
have also been provided to the 1996 Summer Olympics, humanitarian 
missions throughout the world, and disaster relief efforts in Michigan. 
In the days and months following September 11, residents of Michigan 
saw the Michigan National Guard come to the aid of their fellow 
citizens. Guard members protected key sites, assisted at airports and 
aided Customs officials with their duties along the northern border 
between the United States and Canada. Their hard work helped our Nation 
remain secure and maintain the free flow of commerce between both 
nations.
  GEN Stump's leadership has been recognized by his peers. He has been 
appointed to serve on the Reserve Forces Policy Board, the Adjutant 
Generals Association, and for the past 2 years as the president of the 
National Guard Association of the United States. GEN Stump has left an 
indelible impression upon the Michigan National Guard. I look forward 
to working with his successor, GEN Thomas Cutler, and I know that the 
new Adjutant General of Michigan will agree with me that his job has 
been made easier because of the hard work and dedication of GEN Stump. 
I commend GEN Gordon E. Stump for his long and distinguished career of 
service to the United States Air Force, the Michigan National Guard, 
and his Nation, and I know my Senate colleagues will join me in wishing 
him well in the years to come.

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