[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1901-E1902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL MARY L. SAUNDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2005

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career 
of MG Mary L. Saunders. General Saunders has served her country for 
more than 34 years and will retire from the United States Air Force on 
October 1, 2005.
  General Saunders was born in Nacogdoches, TX, and grew up in Houston. 
She was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force after earning a 
bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1970, and served in 
a variety of assignments during her military career, excelling in key 
logistical positions. The general made her mark on Air Force logistics 
in a variety of transportation squadron, air terminal operations, and 
contingency plans staff positions. In August 1996, General Saunders was 
selected as the director of Transportation, Office of the Deputy Chief 
of Staff for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, 
Washington, DC. In 2004, the Department of Defense, in recognition of 
her superb organizational skills, appointed the general as the vice 
director of the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA, Fort Belvoir, VA.
  From early in her career, General Saunders' exceptional leadership 
abilities were evident to both superiors and subordinates as she 
repeatedly proved herself in select command positions. These include 
serving as deputy commander and commander, Military Air Traffic 
Coordinating Office, Military Traffic Management Command, McGuire AFB, 
NJ; commander, 475th Transportation Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan; 
and commander, Defense Supply Center, Columbus, OH.
  During her long service as a logistics expert, General Saunders was a 
crucial voice for critical Air Force policy and programs, always 
providing clear, concise and timely counsel to her service's senior 
leaders. Her later role in the joint service arena proved invaluable to 
the Department of Defense as she led a variety of logistics, 
acquisition, and technical services for DLA in times of peace and 
conflict. Always, the general put a human face to the Air Force's core 
values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we 
do. Her increasingly responsible positions and public recognition bear 
this out.
  I am especially pleased to note that upon her retirement, General 
Saunders plans to return to her home State of Texas to continue

[[Page E1902]]

her life of service at her alma mater. In January 2006, she will become 
the executive director of the Leadership Institute at Texas Woman's 
University at Denton.
  As General Saunders transitions from her role as a military leader to 
a community leader, we wish her great health and happiness. I know I 
speak for all of my colleagues in expressing my heartfelt appreciation 
for her many years of service. I am confident in the years ahead, Mary 
Saunders will continue to leave her indelible mark on our country.

                          ____________________