[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 110 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL MELISSA A. RANK

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I join Senator Inouye in 
recognizing a great American and true military heroine who has 
honorably served our country for 30 years.
  Major General Rank was born in Frostburg, MD, and entered the Air 
Force Nurse Corps in 1978. She earned her BSN from the University of 
Maryland at Baltimore in 1975, and worked for Baltimore City Hospitals, 
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and Center for Disease Control 
prior to entering the Air Force. She also completed a master's in 
nursing administration from University of Texas in 1990, and a master's 
in strategic studies from Air War College in Alabama in 1999.
  Major General Rank's military education includes the Air War College; 
the Air Command and Staff College, Squadron Officer School, Flight 
Nurse School, and Nursing Service Management.
  Major General Rank became the Assistant Air Force Surgeon General for 
Medical Force Development and Assistant Air Force Surgeon General, 
Nursing Services in 2005. She established policy for 34,000 active-duty 
and enlisted medical personnel. She also created nursing policy for 
19,000 active-duty, Guard, and Reserve personnel.
  Major General Rank's past military assignments include serving in the 
Office of the Surgeon General as executive management fellow for 
services, chief of plans, policies and programs for nursing services in 
the directorate of work force management, and deputy assistant surgeon 
general for health care operations. She also served as United States 
Air Force Surgeon Chair to Air University and has commanded an 
aeromedical evacuation squadron in Southwest Asia and a medical 
operations squadron and two medical groups.
  Throughout her career Major General Rank has served with valor and 
profoundly impacted the entire Air Force Medical Department. Her 
performance reflects exceptionally on herself, the United States Air 
Force, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. We 
extend our deepest appreciation to Major General Rank on behalf of a 
grateful nation for her more than 30 years of dedicated military 
service.

                          ____________________