[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E845-E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE 21ST SPACE WING GUARDIAN CHALLENGE 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 21st Space Wing 
at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
  The 21st Space Wing, under the Command of Brigadier General Richard 
Webber, also

[[Page E846]]

under Air Force Space Commander General Lance W. Lord, recently 
participated as champions in the 37th annual Guardian Challenge 
competition and won the coveted Aldridge Trophy for Best Space 
Operations
  Guardian Challenge is the only national competition for Air Force 
Space Command professionals and has a history of competitions dating 
back to 1967. It allows nearly 200 best-of-the-best competitors from 
various Air Force Space Wing Teams around the nation to test their 
skills against each other in tough competition and rigorous evaluation. 
The competition helps them better perform their missions by increasing 
their overall capabilities. Teams qualify by competing at their home 
stations against difficult criteria set in a competitive environment. 
By qualifying, teams compete at the national Guardian Challenge 
competition where they demonstrate their capabilities. In this case, 
Team 21 from Peterson Air Force Base came home with high honors, 
securing the coveted Aldridge Trophy, which is awarded to the Best 
Space Operations Wing.
  I extend congratulations to the top-notch competitors in Guardian 
Challenge who earned the Aldridge Trophy for the 21st Space Wing. From 
Space Operations this includes: Captain Michael Bruno, Crew Commander, 
Technical Sergeant Kenneth DeFeo, Space Operator, Captain Jennifer 
Berger, Crew Commander, Staff Sergeant Robert Widrick, Crew Chief, 
Airman First Class Jennifer McCord, Space Console Operator, Flight 
Lieutenant Jay Garratt, Crew Commander, Flight Sergeant Ken Callaghan, 
Space Operator, Sergeant Stewart Williamson, Operations Team Trainer, 
Corporal Andrew Leckie, Space Operator, Corporal Gary Wright, Space 
Operator, SAC Kristopher Cochrane, Space Operator. From Communications: 
Staff Sergeant David Kisner and Senior Airman Jon McCullar, both 
Communications competition. From Security Forces competition: Staff 
Sergeant Duane Blackmon, Staff Sergeant Jon Scott, Airman First Class 
Steven Israel, Airman First Class Thanongsack Phanda and Staff Sergeant 
Matthew Tussey.
  In addition, I extend special congratulations to Staff Sergeant 
Matthew Tussey of 137th Space Warning Squadron, Air National Guard in 
Greeley, for earning the Top Gun Trophy and medal for overall best 
marksman in all of Air Force Space Command.
  I would also like to honor the entire Team 21 Wing Staff: Command 
Chief Master Sergeant for the 21st Space Wing, Vance Clarke; Colonel 
Gary Pond, 21st Maintenance Group Commander; Lieutenant Colonel Bryant 
Anderson, 21st Operations Group Deputy Commander; Colonel Al Kemmet, 
Jr., 21st Space Wing Guardian Challenge Project Officer; Staff Sergeant 
Jason Hand who was ``Iron Mike''--the Team Mascot; Major Matthew 
Carroll, Guardian Challenge Project Officer Advance Team; Mr. Dick 
DuBose and Mr. Mel Thiel, both Guardian Challenge Advance Team and 
Technical Sergeant Roger Kelley, Transportation Support.
  Mr. Speaker, I take great pleasure today in congratulating the 21st 
Space Wing for their outstanding achievements in this year's Guardian 
Challenge. They are true professionals in our United States Air Force 
and are part of the best space and missile team in the world.

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