[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO GENERAL STEVEN R. DOOHEN

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam President, today I pay 
tribute to MG Steven R. Doohen, who will be retiring at the end of the 
month as adjutant general for the South Dakota National Guard.
  General Doohen joined the South Dakota Air National Guard in January 
1971, later receiving his commission from the Academy of Military 
Sciences at McGhee Tyson, TN. He graduated from the University of Sioux 
Falls in 1987 with a bachelor of arts in organizational behavior 
management. Over the course of his distinguished 40-year career, 
General Doohen has become highly decorated and amassed more than 4,500 
hours of tactical flight time.
  General Doohen was appointed adjutant general of the South Dakota 
National Guard on September 16, 2007, by then-Governor M. Michael 
Rounds. In this role, General Doohen oversees 4,400 Air and Army 
National Guard citizen soldiers and airmen, in addition to 950 Federal 
and State employees. General Doohen has also served in the Governor's 
cabinet as the Secretary of Military and Veteran Affairs.
  South Dakota's Army National Guard ranks No. 2 in the Nation in 
recruiting and retention of soldiers, largely due to General Doohen's 
drive and eagerness to serve our State. The South Dakota Army and Air 
National Guard have always produced and provided highly skilled, 
professional, and dedicated citizen soldiers and airmen. Their skills 
and expertise have complemented our Nation's military efforts, both 
overseas and on the homefront, and assisted South Dakota's efforts when 
fighting natural disasters. Another result of producing such great 
soldiers and airmen has been the ongoing development of great leaders 
for both the Army and Air National Guard, and that has been reflected 
in the expert oversight and leadership of General Doohen.
  Under General Doohen's leadership, the South Dakota Army National 
Guard has deployed over 3,000 soldiers in support of military 
operations in the Middle East. General Doohen and I share a commitment 
to the family members of our military and know how deployments impact 
the entire family. He ensures that mobilizations, as well as welcome-
home ceremonies, are the best possible, bringing the Governor, 
congressional delegation, and community members together to honor our 
National Guard. General Doohen also makes sure all soldiers and airmen 
have access to the best chaplains and family readiness professionals. 
His leadership in these areas has meant a lot to the men and women of 
our National Guard and their families.
  In addition to the contributions General Doohen has made to the State 
of South Dakota, his wife Gloria has also played a vital role in 
supporting our service men and women and their families. She has 
spearheaded efforts to send thousands of care packages to deployed 
South Dakotans over the past decade and led efforts to recognize and 
honor the greatest sacrifice of our South Dakota men and women through 
the Fallen Heroes Banner project. I thank her for her advocacy and work 
alongside General Doohen.
  I commend General Doohen for the work and many years of service he 
has given the State of South Dakota and our Nation. General Doohen 
clearly cares deeply about each member of the South Dakota National 
Guard, and it shows in his every action. His dedicated service to our 
grateful Nation will not be forgotten.

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