[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING COLONEL CHRISTOPHER O'CONNOR, COMMANDING OFFICER OF MIRAMAR 
                        MARINE CORPS AIR STATION

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                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2009

  Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel 
Christopher O'Connor, Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station, 
Miramar (MCAS, Miramar) which I have the pleasure of representing. 
Colonel O'Connor has served his country with distinction for over 
twenty years and I wish him nothing but the best as a new chapter in 
his life begins.
  Colonel O'Connor was born and raised in New York where he received 
his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) 
at the University of Rochester in May of 1979. Since then, he has 
participated in humanitarian relief operations while deployed to the 
Republic of the Philippines, served as the Aviation Department's action 
officer for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) issues and aviation 
training range systems and reported to the Office of Asian and Pacific 
Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he served as 
the Country Director for Australia and New Zealand.
  In August 2006, Colonel O'Connor took over as Commanding Officer of 
MCAS, Miramar where he has excelled in working with local leaders while 
representing the Marine Corp with professionalism and distinction to 
communities surrounding the base and San Diego County as a whole. 
Colonel O'Connor's decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense 
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, 
Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy 
Achievement Medal.
  I applaud the good service that Colonel O'Connor has provided this 
country. He has been an absolute pleasure to work with throughout his 
tenure and I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating this great 
American.

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