[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF DON MITCHELL

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, you and I and all of our colleagues 
know that the Senate could not function without the superb work of the 
Senate staff. These dedicated men and women work day in and day out, 
often logging long hours, working under pressure, and performing 
extremely sensitive jobs, not for high pay, but because of their 
dedication to their country.
  All of these individuals deserve our praise and our thanks. But 
occasionally one of them deserves to be singled out. Today I rise to 
pay tribute to one such individual, Mr. Don Mitchell, professional 
staff of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
  Don is retiring soon after 24 years of government service, 22 of them 
here in the Senate. In 1984, the same year I was first elected to the 
Senate, Don began his career as a legislative assistant for national 
security in the office of his home State Senator, John Glenn. In 1989, 
Senator Glenn moved Don to the staff of the Intelligence Committee. His 
association with Senator Glenn and the committee lasted until 1999 when 
Don left to become Director of Intelligence Programs for the National 
Security Council.
  After spending 2 years at the National Security Council, the 
Intelligence Committee was lucky enough to lure Don back to the 
committee staff. And I have been fortunate that he has stayed 
throughout my tenure on the committee.
  While on the committee, Don has worked on a wide range of issues. He 
has handled the budgets of the FBI, and the Departments of State, 
Energy and Treasury and he has been responsible for counter 
intelligence programs. In addition to Senator Glenn he provided liaison 
support to Senators Richard Bryan and Dick Durbin. For the past few 
years he has overseen all covert action activities, the most sensitive 
programs within the intelligence community.
  Throughout this time, Don has done his job with a professionalism 
that has earned the respect of his colleagues and Members on both sides 
of the aisle.
  While Don's professional accomplishments are impressive, they are far 
from the sum of who Don is. Don is an accomplished author, having 
published works on one of his political heroes, Adlai Stevenson, and 
most recent, a biography of his first boss, Senator Glenn.
  Don's true passion though is his family. His wife Grace, his son 
Logan, and his daughter Ella know well of his devotion to them. They 
also know of his dedication to his work here in the Senate, having 
supported him for so many years and having endured the many late nights 
and weekends he has sacrificed for the Senate.
  Don is the type of staffer who does not seek glory or recognition for 
himself. He does not look for ways to insert himself into issues in 
order to be noticed. He knows what is important and he works toward 
that goal. He shuns the limelight, but he has made deep and lasting 
contributions to the process of intelligence oversight. His steady 
presence, his solid advice, and his devastating wit will be missed.
  I wish him well in his coming endeavors and hope that our paths cross 
again.

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