[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 134 (Monday, September 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING RAVEN-AEROSTAR EMPLOYEES

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I wish to commend 
the team at Raven-Aerostar of Sioux Falls, SD, for their service and 
dedication to excellence in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Afghanistan. Aerostar employees have designed, built, and serviced 
tethered aerostats for the U.S. military's Persistent Ground 
Surveillance System, PGSS, since its inception less than 2 years ago, 
rapidly fielding the first systems for use in the protection of U.S. 
and coalition troops. This summer, Aerostar deployed three of their own 
employees to Afghanistan to provide technical support and analysis of 
current aerostat systems. Pat Thies, Walter Halbleib, and Ryan Casey 
recently returned safely to South Dakota after having traveled to 
numerous remote Forward Operating Bases throughout the war zone. During 
their 6-week mission they traversed Afghanistan with U.S. and coalition 
forces via fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter, and ground convoy. Their 
mission was an immediate success as they offered real-time, on-site 
technical expertise to PGSS operators and maintenance personnel. In 
addition, they were able to provide instant recommendations to Aerostar 
engineers in Sioux Falls for improved designs and processes.
  Raven-Aerostar is a proven manufacturer of high-performance tethered 
aerostat systems used in persistent surveillance and communication 
relays. In Afghanistan, these lighter-than-air blimps hover above 
military outposts in hostile areas and provide continuous imagery used 
in the detection of improvised explosive devices, IEDs, and other 
insurgent activity. Ultimately, Aerostar's products save lives, while 
also saving money for U.S. taxpayers.
  I applaud Pat, Walter, and Ryan on a job well done, and for their 
dedication. They and their fellow Aerostar employees represent the 
commitment to service so prevalent throughout our great State of South 
Dakota.

                          ____________________