[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E15-E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO RADM MICHAEL G. MATHIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2006

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Rear 
Admiral Michael G. Mathis, United States Navy, for his more than 30 
years of active duty service to our country. Admiral Mathis most 
recently served as the deputy commander for Test and Evaluation at the 
Naval Sea Systems Command and he retired on January 26, 2006.
  For over two decades, Admiral Mathis shaped the Navy's strategic 
planning of surface ship combat systems, from electronic warfare and 
tactical data systems to advanced radars and several generations of 
surface-to-air missiles. He is the rare combination of leadership at 
sea, exceptional engineering and scientific accomplishments, and 
success as a program executive and program manager. Serving tirelessly 
as a Navy and Joint leader, including as the Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy, Chief Engineer, Admiral Mathis kept the spotlight on the RDT&E 
required to meet the Department of Defense's current and future needs.
  In his many years as the leader of the Surface Navy's acquisition 
professionals, as well as the Navy's senior expert in advanced and 
future weapons systems, Admiral Mathis instilled pride in generations 
of naval officers and civilian engineers. A strong proponent of 
technical proficiency in naval officers, he promoted the Navy's 
advanced science and engineering degree programs for junior officers.
  Admiral Mathis's inspirational leadership and management of the 
22,000 men and women of the Naval Surface Warfare Systems Command 
during wartime has directly contributed to the tremendous record of 
success in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, 
including the fielding of thermobaric weapons and innovative Force 
Protection advances developed in his warfare center laboratories. He 
put the weapons and tools in the hands of the warfighters when they 
were needed. Most recently, his talents and dedication to our 
warfighters were further put to use by our country as he served in the 
Joint Staff as Deputy Director, J-8 for Force Protection.
  Throughout his career, the Navy's leadership selected Admiral Mathis 
for a series of key positions to mold the technical direction of the 
Navy's Theatre Missile Defense program. His foresight, vision, and 
management decisions led to the development and continuing success of 
missile defense programs vital to our Nation's defense. Key among his 
assignments was as the Director, Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense 
Organization, where he was responsible to the Chairman and Secretary of 
Defense for evaluating systems and emerging technologies to determine 
the optimum mix of surveillance, fire control systems, and the 
associated battle management system to counter aircraft, cruise missile 
and ballistic missile threats to our Nation.
  More than just a leader providing the technical punch for the global 
war on terror, Admiral Mathis has focused on maintaining our Nation's 
technological edge in future weapons systems. He is the senior advocate 
and leader for the RDT&E in laser and directed energy weapons, 
inspiring industry and government engineers to solve engineering 
challenges and ensuring our next generation of warfighters has the 
weapons needed to win. He has championed the need for battle force, 
joint, and coalition interoperability and warfighting capabilities, 
serving as the Single Integrated Air Picture System Engineer for

[[Page E16]]

the Chairman, JCS, and Commander, Joint Forces Command. He also led the 
development of the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense roadmap, 
and to identify joint solutions to surveillance and command and control 
challenges.
  As the Joint Staff lead for Interagency Homeland Air Security issues, 
Admiral Mathis most recently worked in close cooperation with 
USNORTHCOM, NORAD, the Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Homeland Security.
  On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to express my appreciation for 
his dedicated service and I wish him well in his retirement from the 
Navy.

                          ____________________