[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 35 (Sunday, March 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E517]]
COMMENDING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE FOR ANALYSIS AND 
 PRODUCTION, MARK M. LOWENTHAL UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM FEDERAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 20, 2005

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Mark M. 
Lowenthal, Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and 
Production, who will soon retire from government service for a second 
time. His first career with the government saw service in both the 
congressional and executive branches. He began his career with the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS) after earning a Ph.D. in history 
from Harvard University. His intelligence, quick wit and ability to 
work easily with Members of Congress, their staffs, and colleagues in 
the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division at CRS led to his 
steady advancement in that organization.
  As a result of his work as a foreign affairs specialist during this 
period, Mark was asked to accept a position in the executive branch, at 
the Department of State. There, he served in the State Department's 
Bureau of Intelligence and Research, as both an office director and a 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. He became one of former Secretary 
of State George Shultz's close advisors during a time of great change 
in US-Soviet relations, during the era of Glasnost.
  After Secretary Shultz returned to private life, Mark returned to the 
legislative branch. He became one of a select group at the Library of 
Congress and attained the position of Senior Specialist in U.S. Foreign 
Policy. This helped prepare him for his next assignment when he was 
asked to accept the appointment as staff director of the House 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 104th Congress (1995-
1997). It was during this time that he directed the staff of the 
committee in their study of the future of the Intelligence Community, 
IC21: The Intelligence Community in the 21st Century.
  Soon after the study was completed, Mark retired from government. 
Over the next five years he spent time in the private sector as a 
consultant to government and industry on intelligence issues. Once 
again, as a result of his work and deep knowledge of intelligence 
issues, Mark was asked to accept another position in the executive 
branch, this time on the staff of the Director of Central Intelligence. 
He initially served as Counselor to the Director and then in June 2002 
began his service as the Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for 
Analysis and Production as well as Vice Chairman for Evaluation on the 
National Intelligence Council.
  In truth, three years is simply not enough time to make fundamental 
changes in government. However, Dr. Lowenthal has made a good start, 
initiating a variety of projects that have the potential to improve the 
practice of analysis by the Intelligence Community. In collaboration 
with the principal members of the National Security Council, Mark 
provided the leadership required to have the Intelligence Community 
adopt the National Intelligence Priorities Framework. The framework 
provides guidance on the priorities of the most senior national 
policymakers for collection requirements, analysis and production and 
the allocation of resources to include acquisition decisions affecting 
all members of the Intelligence Community. He then instituted a 
comprehensive evaluation to assess the Community's performance. Along 
the way, Mark found time to write a novel, to win a championship on the 
game show Jeopardy!, and to teach university courses.
  The American public is fortunate to have individuals with experience, 
energy and intelligence willing to serve our country in these critical 
times. I thank Mark for his service to our country and wish him, his 
lovely wife Cynthia, and their children, Sarah and Adam, all the best 
as he embarks upon this second retirement.

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