[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5998-S5999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RETIREMENT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL DANIEL J. KAUFMAN, UNITED STATES ARMY

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of Brigadier General Daniel J. Kaufman, United States 
Army, Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy 
at West Point. General Kaufman is retiring on the 6th of June, 2005 
after 37 years of active military service in war and peace. His 
military career exemplifies the finest traditions of the United States 
Army and demonstrates the rare combination of a combat-tested soldier 
and a first-rate scholar.
  I have had the privilege of knowing Dan Kaufman since 1967 when I 
entered West Point and was assigned to Company C, Second Regiment, 
United States Corps of Cadets. Dan was a senior, or as we say at West 
Point, a ``Firstie,'' shorthand for first classman. He distinguished 
himself to me as a serious and conscientious Cadet with a wry sense of 
humor. He ranked academically in the top 5 percent of his class. But, 
like all of his classmates, Dan's attention was focused on Vietnam as 
much as academics.
  Upon graduation in 1968, General Kaufman was commissioned as an 
second lieutenant in the Armored Cavalry and assigned to F Troop, 2d 
Squadron, 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Meade, MD as a platoon 
leader. After 6 months at Fort Meade, General Kaufman deployed to 
Vietnam and served as platoon leader in L Troop, 3d Squadron, 11th 
Armored Cavalry Regiment. Later in the tour he served as the Troop's 
executive officer. For his service in Vietnam, General Kaufman was 
awarded the Bronze Star with V-device for Valor and two Purple Hearts.

  Upon completion of his tour in Vietnam, General Kaufman served from 
1970-1971 as the Commander of E Troop, 2d Squadron, 6th Armored Cavalry 
Regiment, Ft. Meade, MD. General Kaufman left Fort Meade in 1971 to 
attend the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Fort Knox, KY. After a tour 
of duty as an instructor at the armor school, General Kaufman attended 
the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Here, 
we again renewed our friendship as we were both students at the Kennedy 
School of Government at Harvard. By that time, Dan had married his 
beloved wife Kathryn and their daughter, Emily, was born in Mount 
Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. General Kaufman then served as an 
instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences 
from 1974 to 1978. I joined Dan as an instructor in the Department of 
Social Sciences for the academic year 1977-1978.
  After departing West Point, General Kaufman served as Special 
Assistant to the Director, Planning Analysis, Office of the Deputy 
Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) in Washington, DC prior to 
reporting into Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Once at Fort Bragg, General 
Kaufman assumed the duties of Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Force 
Development, 82nd Airborne Division until 1979. From 1979 until 1981, 
General Kaufman was the S-3 (Operations), 4th Battalion (Airborne), 
68th Armor, 82nd Airborne Division.

  Following his assignment at Fort Bragg, General Kaufman completed the 
Armed Forces Staff College in route to Cambridge, MA to study for his 
Ph.D. in political science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 
After earning his Ph.D., General Kaufman rejoined the faculty at West 
Point as a permanent associate processor in the Department of Social 
Sciences.
  In 1990, he was appointed Professor and deputy head of the Department 
of Social Sciences. During this time, he served as chair for 
Accreditation Review Committee, Scholarship Committee, and Faculty 
Development Committee. From 1991 through 1995, General Kaufman served 
as a key member of several Department of the Army committees, including 
Chief of Staff of the Army transition teams for both General Sullivan 
and General Dennis J. Reimer, President-Elect Clinton's DOD Transition 
Team, as well as a special assistant to the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army 
(1991-1992).
  In 1996, General Kaufman was appointed Professor and Head of the 
Department of Social Sciences. There he continued the proud tradition 
of soldiers and scholars, first begun by GEN ``Abe'' Lincoln right 
after World War II, carried on by GEN Don Olvey, by GEN Amos Jordan, 
and General Golden, and now GEN Dan Kaufman.

[[Page S5999]]

  In June 2000, General Kaufman was selected as the eleventh dean of 
the academic board. As dean of the Academic board, General Kaufman 
envisioned an academic program relevant to the needs of the Army that 
contributes to the intellectual and professional development of cadets, 
supported by 700 first-class staff and faculty, $500 million in 
facilities, and a budget of $62.7 million. His visionary leadership led 
to the publication of Educating Future Army Officers for a Changing 
World, the operational concept for the Academic Program that links 
cadet education directly to the Cadet Leader Development System and the 
Army.
  General Kaufman oversaw several significant revisions to the academic 
curriculum to better prepare graduates for the challenges of a 
transforming Army in the post-Cold War world. The new curriculum places 
greater emphasis on global and cultural awareness, information 
technology, and curricular integration; it also offers cadets more 
choice in the selection of academic majors. He encouraged continued 
development of the academic assessment system, placing increased 
emphasis on performance assessments of the academic program goals. The 
extraordinarily positive assessment results from graduates and 
commanders in the field attest to the success of General Kaufman's 
vision. Under his stewardship, the Military Academy continued to lead 
the Nation and the Army in the use of information technology for 
education. He oversaw the installation of a secure wireless 
infrastructure in all academic buildings and encouraged the use of web-
based course management tools.
  Perhaps the crowning achievement of his tenure was the design of 
Thomas Jefferson Hall, the Military Academy's new library/learning 
center. General Kaufman led the effort to secure Army support and 
Congressional funding for the facility and oversaw all features of the 
design. In support of the Global War on Terrorism, General Kaufman 
expanded outreach and support activities to the Army, including faculty 
support to combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. He personally led 
a team of senior faculty members to help reopen Baghdad University 
after decades of repression and isolation. During General Kaufman's 
tenure, USMA cadets won 43 international scholarships; the Military 
Academy was named an Institution of Excellence, and the Center for 
Advancement of Leader Development and Organizational Learning was 
established to provide professional forums for company-grade officers 
throughout the Army.
  BG Kaufman's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion 
of Merit, Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Purple Heart, 2 awards, 
Meritorious Service Medal, 2 awards, Army Commendation Medal, 2 awards, 
Vietnam Service Medal, 4 campaigns and other service awards.
  The Academic Program at the United States Military Academy has never 
been stronger and more connected to the Army. General Kaufman has set 
the course for officer education into the first half of the 21st 
century. His dedication to excellence and his unsurpassed devotion to 
duty, honor, and country have marked his distinguished service over the 
past 37 years. For the past 5 years, he has profoundly shaped the 
intellectual future of the officer corps. And he has not done this 
alone. By his side at every step in his career has been his wife 
Kathryn. They have a wonderful family, including their daughter, Emily, 
and their son, David. Emily is a proud wife of Steve Thomas. They have 
brought to the Kaufman family the youngest Kaufman, baby Emma. Dan is a 
great soldier, a brave scholar, a devoted husband and father, and a 
steadfast friend.

  Dan has used his intellect and wit and devotion to the Army and the 
country to nurture a generation of cadets who will emerge as the 
leaders of our Army and our Nation. Because of Dan they will be ready 
for the daunting challenges that lie ahead. His legacy will be felt in 
1,000 places around the world for decades to come.
  Whenever a leader of our Army uses his intellectual and ethical power 
of his or her education at West Point to defend the Nation, protect our 
soldiers, and advance our ideals, his legacy will be felt in a thousand 
places. West Point has never had a more faithful son or a better dean. 
And I have never had a better friend.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.

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