[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E174-E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MR. MICHAEL SLACHTA, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2004

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mr. Michael Slachta, Jr., Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, who 
retired on January 2, 2004, after 36 years of Federal service--32 of 
which were served at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
  Mike's distinguished career began with service in the U.S. Navy from 
May 1966 to February 1970, including a one-year tour as a corpsman with 
the Third Marines in the Republic of Vietnam. As a result of his 
outstanding service, Mike was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V, 
Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation, and 
Vietnam Service Medal with Fleet Marine Force Combat Insignia.
  Mike attended the University of Pittsburgh on the Vietnam-era GI Bill 
and graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology. In 1971, he joined 
VA as an adjudicator at the Regional Office in Detroit, Michigan. In 
1974, Mike moved to Washington, DC and joined the Internal Audit 
Service to work on the development of the Inspector General Act.
  In 1978, Mike transferred to Hyattsville, Maryland to serve as 
Director of the Eastern Field Office of Audit. In 1980, he returned to 
the District of Columbia to serve as Acting Assistant Inspector General 
for Auditing. In 1982, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Inspector 
General for Regional Audits, and in 1983 he was appointed Deputy 
Assistant Inspector General for Headquarters Audits. In 1991, Mr. 
Slachta was named Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Auditing.
  On March 12, 2000, Mike was appointed Assistant Inspector General for 
Auditing, the position he held until his retirement. In this capacity, 
he directed 166 auditors and support staff located at eight Inspector 
General offices across the country. In the last decade, under Mike's 
direction, the Office of Audit recommended actions that had potential 
cost efficiencies of over $7 billion, which greatly improved VA program 
effectiveness and quality of services to beneficiaries.
  A testament to the significant contributions and commitment of Mike 
Slachta are his many awards and recognitions. In 1991 and 2000, Mike 
received the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Award of 
Meritorious Executive. In 2001, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
appointed him to the VA Claims Processing Task Force, where he served 
with distinction.

[[Page E175]]

  The President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency presented Mike 
with the June Gibbs Brown Career Achievement Award in 2003 for his 
extraordinary leadership and a distinguished career at VA in public 
service.
  Mike and his wife Sharron have two sons, David and Douglas. They both 
share their father's passion and considerable skills in judo and golf.
  With Mike's retirement, VA loses an enthusiastic, innovative leader 
and an exemplary Federal employee.

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