[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S14395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RETIREMENT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM T. BESTER

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the service of 
a great public servant, outstanding Army officer, and dedicated 
academic leader.
  In his latest stint of public service, BG William T. Bester, U.S. 
Army retired, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious 
service to the Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services 
University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, as acting dean from 10 
July 2006 to 30 December 2007.
  During this period, the outstanding leadership and ceaseless efforts 
of General Bester resulted in major contributions to the Graduate 
School of Nursing, GSN, and to the Uniformed Services University, USU. 
He assumed his duties during a period of significant change and growth 
in the history of the GSN and the USU. He lead efforts in dealing with 
substantial change in the GSN: planning for a new psychiatric/mental 
health nurse practitioner master's option, facilitating the merger of 
the GSN and Navy nurse anesthesia master's option, fostering renewed 
collaboration with the Federal nursing service chiefs, FNSCs, assisting 
the USU with the search for a new brigade commander and GSN dean, and 
dealing with base closure and realignment strategy and requirements. He 
focused on every issue with unwavering directness, a spirit of 
community participation, collegial respect, enthusiasm, and a wonderful 
sense of humor and fair play. His leadership brought about a change in 
GSN character and personality that is visible at every level of USU. 
His tenure has been marked by strong, supportive relationships with 
senior USU leaders, an increase in FNSC collaboration and trust 
resulting in additional senior scholars assigned to the Nursing Science 
Doctoral Program and new educational program opportunities and 
increased student involvement in and enthusiasm for the school and the 
university.
  Working closely with my office, he was instrumental in solidifying 
DOD core budgeting for the GSN. He negotiated an expansion of faculty 
research support with the School of Medicine and the USU vice president 
for research. He established a sense of calm and collaborative team 
building by fostering a common vision, always listening to the faculty 
and staff issues, and addressing their concerns. As a genuine and 
dedicated ambassador of the university, General Bester often 
represented the USU president at external senior level meetings. His 
career interdisciplinary leadership experiences and the respect he 
maintains within the Department of Defense always provided credibility 
as spokesperson when he represented the university and its president. 
These same qualities allowed him to be an essential advisor to 
President Rice during a time of significant change within USU, on the 
Bethesda campus, and in emerging military and Federal health 
cooperative concerns. Brigadier General Bester's total dedication to 
service in all aspects of his leadership of the Graduate School of 
Nursing and his exceptional leadership contributions to USU reflect an 
unsurpassed commitment to maintaining the highest standards for 
military and Federal health nurse education at the Uniformed Services 
University. The distinctive accomplishments of Brigadier General Bester 
reflect great credit upon himself, the Department of Defense, and the 
Uniformed Services University.
  The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences continues to 
fulfill our vision as a key part of the Nation's academic health 
education enterprise because of the dedication of its faculty and 
administrative leadership. General Bester exemplifies the best of the 
best. We owe a debt of gratitude for his years of public service, and I 
wish to take this opportunity to thank him along with his family: his 
wife Cheryl, his son Jason, daughter Jodi, and grandsons Will and Jake.
  We wish General Bester Godspeed as he returns to his family and Texas 
where his children and grandchildren now live.

                          ____________________