[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LCDR ANDREW J. SCHULMAN, USN
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to recognize LCDR Andrew
Schulman, U.S. Navy for the outstanding contributions he rendered this
past year while serving as a legislative fellow on my staff. Andrew is
completing his Capitol Hill fellowship this month, and it is my hope
that he has benefited as much from this experience as have I from
having him on my staff.
Lieutenant Commander Schulman is a member of the U.S. Navy Civil
Engineer Corps and is a Seabee Combat Warfare qualified officer. To my
great benefit, Andrew joined my office in a year when the Department of
Defense, made public its Base Closure and Realignment list. When an Air
Force base in my home State of New Mexico was designated for closure,
Andrew's expertise in facilities planning and assessment proved
critical in our successful effort to convince the BRAC Commission that
the DOD's decision on Cannon Air Force Base was premature and deserved
a second look. I have no doubt that Andrew's tireless work and
dedication was key to the Commission's ultimate finding that DOD
``substantially deviated'' on several BRAC selection criteria and that
the Department ``shall seek'' a new mission for Cannon.
Andrew's experience as the officer in charge of designing and
constructing detention cells for enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay
also provided me a firsthand insight on the issue of enemy prisoner
detainment. It is an issue that has been carefully scrutinized by
Congress this year, and Andrew provided sharp memoranda and oral
briefings on both legal and policy aspects that greatly informed my own
understanding of both interrogation and detainee policies of the
Department of Defense.
I must also thank Andrew's family for enduring his many late nights
at work. So to Mary Rose, Andrew's wife, and the Schulman children,
Adam and Emma, I say thank you. And without question, you can be
extremely proud of Andrew's dedication to our country.
Finally, I want to give my heartfelt thank you to Andrew for his
service. His ``can-do'' attitude and tireless work ethic were
infectious. His willingness to tackle issues which were new to him and
to embrace the goals I have set for my staff on behalf of both the men
and women of the armed forces and the citizens of New Mexico were truly
commendable. I have no doubt that as Andrew continues his military
career, he will achieve great things for both the U.S. Navy and his
country, and I wish him the very best of luck in all his future
endeavors.
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