[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 189 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF COLONEL VENETIA E. BROWN, 
                        UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 14, 2009

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Colonel Venetia 
E. Brown for 30 years of exceptional service and dedication to the 
United States Air Force and enduring contributions to our great Nation. 
She will retire from active duty on March 31, 2010.
  Colonel Brown grew up in Niceville, Florida and entered the United 
States Air Force in 1980 as a graduate of the distinguished Officers' 
Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She has served in a 
variety of personnel assignments at the unit and headquarters level 
both stateside and overseas, and has excelled in all leadership 
positions throughout her career. Her unique leadership and managerial 
talents were evident early in her career, affirmed by her selection as 
a captain to organize and direct the wing survival and recovery center, 
a function normally performed by a colonel. As a testament to her 
leadership skills, Colonel Brown has been the commander of a military 
personnel flight, mission support squadron, and deputy commander of a 
large support group and has produced outstanding results during 
inspections as well as motivated her subordinates to achieve their 
dreams. Additionally, she is a distinguished alumnus of Legislative 
Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, directing manpower 
and personnel legislative matters.
  Prior to her current assignment, Colonel Brown served as the Chief, 
Compensation and Legislation Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Personnel, Headquarters United States Air Force. She developed the 
first-ever Air Force Bonus Review Board resulting in $125M savings 
during fiscal year 2006 and $1B in out-years. Additionally, Colonel 
Brown secured $20.7M from the Air Force Board for compensation 
legislative initiatives and ramrodded Transformation legislation on 
civilian pay/hiring flexibility. A powerhouse crusader and remarkable 
leader, Colonel Brown was consistently given the tough issues and never 
failed the men and women of the Air Force.
  In her most recent assignment, Colonel Brown served as the Director 
of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, Air Force Review 
Boards Agency, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Over the past 5 and 
half years Colonel Brown guided the Secretary of the Air Force's 
Personnel Council through over 10,000 Board actions. Her excellent 
decisions ensured due process, equity, consistency, and fairness. 
Colonel Brown has the distinct honor of being consistently ranked as 
the number one of five directors in the Air Force Review Boards Agency. 
She has always upheld the highest standards of professional conduct and 
her warrior ethos has ensured complete success at every juncture and 
will be truly missed. I ask my Colleagues to join me in expressing our 
sincere thanks to Venetia, her spouse Michael, and their son Damone for 
their unwavering support of our country and the freedom we hold so 
dear. We congratulate Colonel Brown on the completion of an exemplary 
active-duty career and wish her well in the next phase of her life.

                          ____________________