[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1497-E1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS F. DEPPE VICE COMMANDER, AIR FORCE 
                             SPACE COMMAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNY REHBERG

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2009

  Mr. REHBERG. Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to retiring Major General Thomas F. Deppe. General Deppe became 
Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command in August, 2007. As Vice 
Commander, he provides leadership to the world's greatest space and 
missile force.
  General Deppe began his Air Force career in 1967 when he graduated 
from Basic Military Training. His distinguished career is characterized 
by his Master Missileer Badge, Command Space Badge, Space Professional 
Level III certification, operational space experience in nuclear 
operations and spacelift, weapon systems expertise in the Minuteman II, 
Minuteman III and Peacekeeper ICBMs, Hound Dog

[[Page E1498]]

and Quail Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, the Ground-Launched Cruise 
Missile and the Atlas III, Titan IV, Delta II and Delta III boosters. 
General Deppe's exemplary career is marked by command, operational and 
leadership positions in a variety of Air Force and Joint assignments.
  General Deppe began his illustrious Air Force career as a Missile 
Instrumentation Electronics Technician. He had a series of aircraft 
munition assignments and rounded out his enlisted service with an Air 
Force recruiting position, achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant. In 
1977, General Deppe received his commission through the Officer 
Training School. This led him to his first assignment in Montana at 
Malmstrom Air Force Base. General Deppe's Air Force journey as an 
officer would take Eileen and him through a series of Wing, Air Staff 
and Joint assignments relating to strategic and tactical missile and 
space systems. He operated the Ground-Launched Cruise Missile in Europe 
and later served as the Commander of the 351st Organizational Missile 
Maintenance Squadron in Missouri at Whiteman Air Force Base. 
Additionally, he commanded the 90th Logistics Group at Francis E. 
Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming and the 341st Space Wing in Montana. 
While assigned to the National Military Command Center, he directed 
actions during the early days of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and the Space 
Shuttle Columbia recovery effort. General Deppe went on to command the 
Air Force's land-based strategic deterrent force at 20th Air Force in 
Wyoming before his present assignment as the Vice Commander of Air 
Force Space Command.
  During General Deppe's tenure as Vice Commander, Air Force Space 
Command, he provided inspirational leadership to over 39,000 personnel 
responsible for a global network of satellite command and control, 
communications, missile warning and space launch facilities, and 
ensured the combat readiness of America's ICBM force. Exploiting his 
unique blend of operational experience and staffing acumen, General 
Deppe championed the implementation of a new Management Headquarters 
construct through Air Force Space Command's ``Lanes-In-The Road'' 
initiative. The results clearly aligned the Command's headquarters 
organizations with its own functional concepts as well as the 
operational mission areas outlined in the United States Air Force 
Concept of Operations. In addition, he guaranteed the future viability 
of the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise by driving major system 
revitalization initiatives, to include the Air Force Chief of Staff-
approved creation of an ICBM Weapons Instructor Course at the United 
States Air Force Weapons School. He was instrumental in successfully 
implementing visionary space mission area initiatives with wide-ranging 
national and international implications, to include the Launch and 
Range Enterprise Transformation effort, the Commercial and Foreign 
Entities Support Pilot Program and the operational expansion of on-
orbit Global Positioning System and Wideband Global Satellite 
communications capabilities. Finally, General Deppe oversaw the 
command's lead role to stand-up the 24th Air Force to execute the Air 
Force's cyberspace mission.
  Madam Speaker, the American people have been fortunate to have 
General Deppe serving as the Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command 
for the past two years. General Deppe's leadership was an essential 
element in winning the Cold War and vital to Air Force Space Command's 
support of combat operations around the world to include Operations 
ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, the Global War on Terrorism and 
Overseas Contingency Operations. His exemplary character and dedication 
to service have resulted in a career of which he, his wife Eileen, and 
their three children, Lisa, Tom and Ken, can be very proud. I know my 
fellow Members of the House of Representatives will join me in thanking 
him for his commitment to his Nation and in wishing him all the best in 
the years ahead.

                          ____________________