[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E343-E344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MS. ERIN CONATON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2010

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Erin 
Conaton, the Majority Staff Director of the House Armed Services 
Committee, who leaves our staff today to become the new Under Secretary 
of the Air Force.
  Madam Speaker, this is a bittersweet moment for me. I have come to 
depend upon Erin Conaton as a trusted advisor and friend since she 
joined the House Armed Services Committee staff in 2001. Seldom does 
one person have the combination of talent, good judgment, knowledge, 
devotion to duty, common sense, and, as we say in Missouri, ``good get 
along,'' but Erin is blessed with all of these qualities. And while I 
am not happy about losing her to the Pentagon and no longer working 
with her on a daily basis, I know that our country will not just be in 
good hands, but better hands, with Erin as Under Secretary of the Air 
Force.
  Erin has an impressive academic and professional background. She 
holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University's School of 
Foreign Service and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law 
and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Before becoming a Congressional 
staffer, Erin was highly recommended to me as a result of her 
outstanding work as the Research Staff Director for the U.S. Commission 
on National Security/21st Century, also known as the Hart-Rudman 
Commission.
  Erin joined the House Armed Services Committee staff in 2001, serving 
as a Professional Staff Member covering a range of defense policy 
issues. In 2005, she became the committee's Minority Staff Director. 
And at the start of the 110th Congress in 2007, Erin assumed the post 
of Majority Staff Director, serving all of the members of our committee 
and overseeing the committee's 70-person staff. She has run the House 
Armed Services Committee as well as anyone in my 33 years in Congress.
  In the nine years that I have had the privilege to know and work 
closely with Erin, she has consistently demonstrated her leadership 
ability, mastery of national security issues, and dedication to our men 
and women in uniform. Erin's work ethic is unparalleled, but more 
importantly, she has a rare gift for getting along with people. Despite 
the demands of working on Capitol Hill, Erin is unflappable and 
approaches every challenge with a level head, whether working with 
Members of Congress, Congressional staff, or Administration officials.
  I am delighted that the Obama Administration recognized that Erin 
Conaton would be an excellent nominee for the next Under Secretary of 
the Air Force. I can't brag on her enough, and I am pleased that the 
other body confirmed her nomination last week. I know Erin will make us 
proud as she continues her career in public service with the Department 
of the Air Force, and I wish her all the best as she takes on this new 
challenge.

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