[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10732-S10733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES TEGNELIA

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to 
Dr. James Tegnelia who will be retiring from his position as the 
Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DTRA, in February 2009 
and returning to New Mexico.
  The DTRA is charged with safeguarding the United States and its 
allies from the threat of weapons of mass destruction, WMD, and 
consists of a 2,000 member team. Dr. Tegnelia has been the Director of 
this prestigious Agency since February of 2005 and has been an integral 
part of its many accomplishments.
  Prior to his appointment as the Director of the DTRA, Dr. Tegnelia 
was the vice president, Department of Defense Programs, at Sandia 
National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, starting in 1998. He has been 
involved in defense-related fields since 1971 and has a long and 
distinguished career in championing innovative causes. From increasing 
the DTRA's efforts in science and technology investment in nuclear 
detection, nuclear forensics and advanced energetic capabilities, to 
working on the global stage in the international effort to counter 
WMD--in part through the establishment of regional and global 
nonproliferation partnerships--Dr. Tegnelia has been a true leader in 
protecting our great Nation.
  In addition to his leadership in securing our country and its allies 
from the threat of WMD, Dr. Tegnelia has worked to strengthen the 
capabilities of the DTRA, transforming the Agency into a combat 
support-focused, technically agile and operationally relevant 
organization.

[[Page S10733]]

  Dr. Tegnelia has been a great asset to the DTRA and to the protection 
of our Nation. My wife Nancy and I wish Dr. Tegnelia and his family the 
best in his retirement and subsequent return to our great State of New 
Mexico.

                          ____________________