[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO DENNIS DOUGLASS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATION SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN BOOZMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Dennis 
Douglass, who will retire on January 3, 2007, after 30 years of service 
to our Nation's veterans.
  Over the last 7 years Mr. Douglass has served with distinction as the 
Deputy Director for the Education Service at the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs. He was a consummate professional with unquestioned 
integrity, who consistently exhibited management and leadership 
qualities that put him among VA's top performers.
  I first had the privilege of meeting Mr. Douglass when I became 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity at the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs and began working on legislation to improve 
education benefits for servicemembers and veterans. Mr. Douglass has 
always made himself available to Congress when needed and served on 
behalf of the Secretary with honesty and sincerity. He has been the 
VA's institutional memory on education benefits and his contributions 
will truly be missed.
  Mr. Douglass began his Federal career in 1976 as a Veterans Claims 
Examiner at the VA regional office in Detroit, Michigan. In 1982 he 
transferred to VA Headquarters in Washington, DC, to work in Education 
Service. Since his arrival, he has written procedural guidance for 
education claims processing, assisted in systems design, performed 
quality assurance reviews, conducted regional office appraisal visits, 
and served as Budget Analyst and Staff Assistant to the Director of 
Education Service. In 1999 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs appointed 
him Deputy Director in Education Service.
  When asked, staff at VA describe him as an avid golfer with a 
penchant for corny jokes. Many remarked on his priceless collection of 
bad ties from the 70's and 80's. Overall, Mr. Douglass is known as one 
of the nicest persons that any of them have had the privilege to work 
with at VA. His colleagues state that his understanding of veteran's 
needs and his dedication to the job will be sorely missed by all, 
including the veterans he dedicated his career to serve.
  Mr. Douglass was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and served honorably in 
the U.S. Army from 1969 through 1971. He graduated from Eastern 
Michigan University in 1974 and did graduate work at Wayne State 
University. He resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his wife JoAnn, 
son Daryl, and daughter Alison.

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