[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING A CAREER OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE BY MR. ROBERT J. WINCHESTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American 
and a great friend, Bob Winchester, who has served our country in 
uniform and as a dedicated member of our intelligence community for 
more than three decades. Bob is officially retiring this week from his 
post at the Pentagon where he has served in many positions but most 
recently as the face of U.S. Army Intelligence.
  Bob has distinguished himself and brought honor to the Army through 
his exceptionally meritorious service to the Defense Department, the 
Intelligence Community (IC), and the Nation during a career that has 
spanned more than 36 years. And in recognition for his service, he will 
receive our government's highest honors for civil service from the 
Defense Department and the Director of National Intelligence.
  Bob has consistently epitomized the consummate Military Intelligence 
professional even through the last nine years of increasingly demanding 
and critical leadership challenges.
  Though he recently culminated his career of service as the Military 
Intelligence Portfolio Manager for the Office of Congressional Liaison, 
that post tells only part of the story of Bob's long career.
  Well known and well respected, Bob spent 26 years as the face of Army 
Intelligence on Capitol Hill and as a trusted confidante for ten heads 
of the Army intelligence branch.
  His long list of achievements and contributions are as varied as they 
were crucial. In the wake of the Iran Contra scandal in the 1980s, Bob 
was a key architect in developing legislation that changed the way our 
intelligence apparatus operated. He was called upon again in the wake 
of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal to answer tough questions about our 
intel programs in Iraq and work with Congress to re-shape our military 
interrogation program. He was at the forefront of Army and Defense 
Department intelligence policy and execution. His experience and 
intellect were recognized, sought, and leveraged as a subject-matter 
expert within the Army, DoD, and the broader U.S. Intelligence 
Community.
  A lawyer and proud graduate of Temple University's Beasley School, 
Bob provided expert advice on Intelligence Law long before Congress 
fully considered the ramifications of conflicting intel priorities. He 
engineered the process of Congressional oversight of intelligence 
activities, worked intricately on the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 
Prevention Act of 2004 and was frequently and regularly called upon by 
my colleagues for testimony at Congressional hearings. He has also 
served as advisor and support staff to numerous military commanders 
during their testimony before the House and Senate Armed Service and 
Intelligence committees.
  But Bob was also a teacher and a mentor. For many years, the nation's 
youngest and brightest intel officers have studied under Bob's tutelage 
before taking up assignments throughout the Army staff or on Capitol 
Hill as Congressional Fellows.
  Bob was also a professor who has shared his broad wealth of 
experience to better the whole of the Army. He has been a regular 
instructor at the Military Intelligence Battalion and Brigade Pre-
Command Course that has shaped generations of Military Intelligence 
commanders and Command Sergeants Major. He has also been a frequent 
speaker at courses for young officers and enlisted personnel, preparing 
Military Intelligence leaders to succeed in engagements on the 
battlefield and in the halls of Congress. In this respect, Bob remains 
a strong and tireless professional.
  Bob was instrumental in the establishment of critical intel programs 
which continue to pay huge dividends in the current fight. His efforts, 
particularly on Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence programs, 
include the introduction of advanced biometrics collection and 
establishment of the Human Intelligence Training Joint Center of 
Excellence that is housed at Fort Huachuca in my District.
  As a result of Bob's vision and persistence, the Army has increased 
its Counter-intel and HUMINT capability by threefold, and that trend 
continues.
  For more than a quarter century, Bob's tireless energy and enthusiasm 
has facilitated deep-rooted and trusting relationships between the Army 
and Congress. And through his hard work and determination, he has been 
an integral part of shaping the Army's most critical Intelligence 
requirements during wartime and peacetime.
  As the Army seeks ways to fill the gap created by Bob's retirement, 
they have found it takes more than one young officer to keep up with 
the daily routine he so aptly maintained for so long. Bob's legacy of 
service and innumerable contributions to the Army, the Intelligence 
Community and the United States will be long-lasting and immeasurable.
  I am proud to not only count him as a friend, but also honored to 
represent him as a constituent.
  Thank you so much, Bob, and enjoy your retirement.

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