[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 150 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      PETE DORN'S RETIREMENT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, it is a personal privilege for me to rise 
today to recognize the contributions and many accomplishments of Mr. 
Peter Dorn, a valued and long time professional staff member of the 
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Pete will be leaving our staff 
this month after 33 years of dedicated service to our Nation.
  Pete Dorn is the epitome of the professional staffer and he has 
served the Senate and the Intelligence Committee in an outstanding 
exemplary manner since he joined the committee's staff in 1991. From 
advising, if not educating Members, as their professional liaison to 
drafting legislation or conducting special investigations and projects 
to implementing and improving the intelligence budget, he and his work 
will be sorely missed.
  Pete Dorn's service to our country is quite a pedigree. In 1971, 
following his graduation from the State University of New York, Pete 
began serving his country as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He 
spent 6 years in the infantry and special operations arena before 
transferring to Marine Corps Intelligence. It was a perfect military 
occupational and operational fit. For the rest of his Marine career, he 
honed his skills as an intelligence analyst and staff officer serving 
the Pacific Joint Intelligence Center, the Overseas Military Air 
Groups, the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Headquarters, Marine Corps 
and the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Program staff.
  He could not have been better prepared to continue his service in 
intelligence work and he did so as he continued his career in the White 
House as a budget and legislative analyst at the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy. He then served as program and budget analyst at 
the Director of Central Intelligence's Crime and Counter-narcotics 
Center.
  In 1991, Pete's budgeting, intelligence and military experience made 
him a prime candidate for a professional staff position on the Senate 
Select Committee on Intelligence. He has served us as a budget monitor 
and as a staff liaison to Senator Richard Shelby and to myself and 
currently, Senator Saxby Chambliss. Pete also serves the committee as 
staff director for research and analysis.
  As in the case of many staff members and for that matter, Senators 
and Members of Congress as well, the laundry list of positions and 
titles does not tell the real story. The real story regarding Pete Dorn 
is that he is truly a patriot, has made a real difference in 
intelligence work, budgeting and legislation and as a consequence 
helped make our country a safer Nation. After 9/11, it was Pete Dorn 
who helped me to realize that although the Intelligence Community 
possessed great collection assets, we had a long way to go in terms of 
our analytical capability. It is our analytical product that is then 
turned over to the decision makers that contained mixed and delayed 
reporting. It has been my goal as chairman to see that this is changed. 
In this regard Pete Dorn has been my adviser. Personally, he has made a 
difference in my life and how I look at public service. He believes the 
role of intelligence is absolutely crucial to our national security, 
and when he sees things that should be corrected or a miscarriage of 
justice or something awry in his family--i.e., the intelligence 
community--he will not stop until he does everything possible to set 
things right.

  The case of our ``captured and whereabouts unknown'' gulf war Navy 
pilot, CAPT Scott Speicher, is a classic example. We will not rest 
until the fate of this pilot is known. The person who did not rest and 
who pressed for better intelligence and honest answers was Pete Dorn--
not only for Scott Speicher and his family but for every warfighter who 
wears the uniform.
  We now have legislation that changes the way we handle our prisoners 
of war and those missing in action. The credit for that legislation 
goes to Pete Dorn.
  There are many other examples I could outline, some classified and 
some not. Simply said, Pete Dorn's perseverance and commitment to our 
country and fellowman has been remarkable. Thank you, Pete, for putting 
up with and educating me, from a new member of the Senate Intelligence 
Committee to my current position as chairman. Thank you for your 
friendship and advice.
  Vice Chairman Rockefeller and the members of the Intelligence 
Committee, both past and present, who have enjoyed and benefited from 
their association with Pete extend their personal thanks for his 
exceptional dedication, his loyalty, his integrity, and his 
distinguished service. We wish all the best to Pete and his wife 
Kathleen, and to the entire Dorn family.
  So, thanks again, Pete. And, from one marine to another, well done, 
and Semper Fi.
  I yield the remainder of my time, Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Murkowski). Who yields time?
  Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, how much time do we have?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There remain 23 minutes 47 seconds.
  The Senator from Minnesota.

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