[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF GERALD J. LEELING

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize 
Gerald ``Gary'' Leeling for receiving the Colonel Paul W. Arcari 
Meritorious Achievement Award from the Military Officers Association of 
America--MOAA--on March 18, 2006.
  I have come to know Gary through his service as minority staff 
director of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, of which 
I am ranking member. His responsibilities include recruiting and 
retention, separation and retirement, pay and benefits, personnel 
policies, military medical programs, and military officer nominations. 
Gary is highly deserving of this award for his strong staff work on 
numerous legislative initiatives affecting military people. Whether he 
is briefing me on pending nominations or changes to numerous defense 
programs, Gary does so in a professional and committed manner.
  Before beginning his service in the Senate in December 1998, Gary was 
an Army Judge Advocate General's corps officer. During his 28 years of 
service in the Army, Mr. Leeling served as chief of the Administrative 
Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Army; staff 
judge advocate for III Armored Corps, Fort Hood, TX; faculty, 
Industrial College of the Armed Forces; staff judge advocate for 2nd 
Armored Division, Fort Hood, TX; and deputy staff judge advocate for 
VII Corps, Stuttgart, West Germany.
  Gary received a bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State 
University and a juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota. 
He is a graduate of the Judge Advocate General's Graduate Course, the 
Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of 
the Armed Forces.
  I consider Gary a tremendous asset that the Senate Armed Services 
Committee is lucky to have, and I commend Gary on his accomplishments 
and thank him for his contributions to our country's servicemembers.

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