[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MARK JOSEPH LUMER

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2004

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize Mr. Mark J. Lumer of Huntsville, AL, for his 28 years of 
outstanding service in supporting the U.S. military, in particular, our 
soldiers in Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. He is the 
Contracting Executive at the United States Army Space and Missile 
Defense Command, USASMDC, in Huntsville, AL. I stand today to applaud 
Mark Lumer for his many years of service and loyalty in North Alabama's 
role in supporting our soldiers in the field.
  Mark Lumer has risen through the ranks of the Federal Government and 
earned his current position as the Principal Assistant Responsible for 
Contracting at the USASMDC Contracting and Acquisition Management 
Office with offices in Washington, DC; Huntsville, AL; Colorado 
Springs, CO; and Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands. As 
the Director of Contracts, he oversees over $14 billion in active 
contracts, annual expenditures of about $2 billion and a staff of 
approximately 80.
  Mark Lumer achieved the highest distinction in his field as a member 
of the Senior Executive Service when he was recognized by President 
Bush in 2001 with the ``Presidential Meritorious Rank Award.'' In 2000, 
the Secretary of the Army presented Mr. Lumer with the ``Decoration for 
Exceptional Civilian Service,'' the Army's highest civilian award. In 
addition, he has been recognized nationally for his contributions to 
the small business industry located in historically underutilized 
business zone (HUBZone) areas and received an award from the President 
of the National Institute of Severely Handicapped for his innovative 
contracting techniques that substantially increased job opportunities 
for handicapped individuals.
  A native of New York, residing in both Virginia and Alabama, Mark 
Lumer has made Huntsville his home away from home. He has taken an 
active role in the Huntsville community serving as a board member of 
the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Foundation and the Space Center Museum 
Committee. In addition, Mark Lumer is a leader in the Huntsville 
community as a much sought after speaker for local organizations such 
as the Huntsville Association of Technical Societies, Huntsville 
Chapter of the National Contract Management Association, and the 
Huntsville Association of Small Business in Advanced Technology.
  Among his many contributions to North Alabama, Mark Lumer is most 
recognized for his support to the small business community to include 
minority and women-owned businesses. He is also an advocate for 
historically black colleges, universities, and minority institutions 
and ensures grants are awarded annually to these schools through local 
programs such as the Education and Employment for Technological 
Excellence in Aviation, Missiles, and Space.
  I join his family, his wife Gail, his son Michael, his son-in-law Mo, 
his daughters Anne and Sarah, and friends and co-workers in 
congratulating him on a job well done. On behalf of the people of 
Alabama's 5th Congressional district, I want to express my gratitude to 
Mark for his extraordinary service to our community and our Nation.

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