[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 44 (Thursday, April 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL DEBORAH A. GUSTKE

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to recognize a great American 
and a true military hero who has honorably served our country for 32 
years in the Army and Army Nurse Corps: Colonel Deborah A. Gustke. 
Colonel Gustke has a true passion for nursing and served in a variety 
of clinical nursing and leadership positions at various Army medical 
facilities including Fort Benning, GA, Tripler Army Medical Center, 
Hawaii, and Fort Hood, TX. Her tremendous leadership skills led to her 
selection as a nurse recruiter and subsequent selection for long-term 
civilian schooling to obtain an advanced degree as an oncology clinical 
nurse specialist. Colonel Gustke served with distinction in a series of 
senior leadership positions as chief nurse at Fort Knox, KY, Fort 
Rucker, AL, and at Fort Bliss, TX, and as the Army Nurse Corps 
personnel proponent staff officer. In every circumstance, Colonel 
Gustke was recognized for her clinical excellence and stellar 
leadership.
  In 2000, Colonel Gustke was appointed the Assistant Chief of the Army 
Nurse Corps. As assistant chief, Colonel Gustke developed and 
implemented policies and procedures that affected nearly 35,000 nursing 
personnel throughout the Army. Collaborating with senior Army and 
Department of Defense organizations, she worked to successfully obtain 
direct hire authority, thereby dramatically reducing the hiring time 
for civilian nurses. She spearheaded several recruitment and retention 
initiatives, including the $18 million Health Professional Loan 
Repayment Program, the critical skills retention bonus, and increased 
capacity for the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program. Her efforts 
decreased the impact of the national nursing shortage on the Army. In 
addition, she implemented the recognition of the advanced practice 
nurse role for the Army Medical Department. As chair of the Federal 
Nursing Service Council, she sponsored the development of a Federal 
nursing research model that focused on improving soldier readiness and 
patient-care outcomes.
  Colonel Gustke's accomplishments are eloquent testimony to her 
talent, dedication, loyalty, and determination in ensuring that the 
best possible nursing care is always available to our soldiers, their 
family members and our deserving retirees. Colonel Gustke has 
established a legacy of superior performance to be emulated by all, 
which reflects greatly on herself, the United States Army, the 
Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my 
deepest appreciation on behalf of a grateful Nation for her dedicated 
service. Congratulations to Colonel Gustke. I wish her Godspeed.

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