[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1669-E1670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, ADMIRAL 
         MICHAEL G. MULLEN'S 43 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2011

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Admiral 
Michael G. Mullen, for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service 
to the United States of America as the 17th Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff. Admiral ``Mike'' Mullen will retire as the highest-
ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces and the President's 
principle military advisor. His service spans more than four decades of 
active military duty to the United States Navy and the Department of 
Defense.
  Born in Los Angeles, California, Admiral Mike Mullen was commissioned 
into the Navy after graduating with the Class of 1986, from the United 
States Naval Academy. His rise in the Navy began at sea, when Ensign 
Mullen reported aboard the destroyer, USS Collett, as an Anti-Submarine 
Officer. While aboard the ship, he deployed to the Western Pacific and 
participated in combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. Afterwards, 
he subsequently served on six other warships, including command of 
three of those vessels at sea, and he commanded the George Washington 
Carrier Strike Group and United States Second Fleet. His shore 
assignments have been focused in the areas of resourcing and personnel 
which included duty with the Bureau of Personnel, the Navy staff, and 
the staff of the Secretary of Defense. He helped train, educate, and 
mentor future generations of naval officers during tours at the United 
States Naval Academy. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated 
exemplary service in duty to the mission and care for his sailors.
  In August 2003, Admiral Mike Mullen was selected to serve as the 
Navy's 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations. During the first half of 
2005, he served as Commander of NATO's Joint Force Command Naples and 
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, leading the Alliance's 
peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and its important training 
mission in Iraq.
  In July of 2005, Admiral Mike Mullen was sworn in as the 28th Chief 
of Naval Operations, serving as the top uniformed leader of the Navy 
and representative to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his tenure, he 
oversaw the service's efforts to man, train, and equip the United 
States Navy to fulfill its traditional missions at sea. Admiral Mike 
Mullen also conceived and championed the Navy's contributions to the 
ground war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and other regions to combat 
violent terrorism. Admiral Mike Mullen further led efforts to provide a 
framework and concrete plan to stabilize the Navy's shipbuilding 
program to support a three hundred-thirteen ship fleet to maintain the 
United States' maritime superiority in a dynamic and uncertain world.
  On October 1st, 2007, the President of the United States and the 
United States Senate appointed Admiral Mike Mullen as the 17th Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Since assuming duties as Chairman, he has 
overseen continuous joint military operations with our Nation's allies 
to eradicate terrorist networks throughout the world. Admiral Mike 
Mullen's overall leadership supported the incredible turnaround in 
security and stability in Iraq and has bolstered the efforts of the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance in Afghanistan. 
Additionally during his tenure, Admiral Mike Mullen oversaw military 
humanitarian assistance operations in relief of major international 
disasters to include the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and 2011 Japan 
Earthquake and Tsunami.
  Although Admiral Mike Mullen's dedication to service has been honored 
by a wide array of leadership awards and decorations over the years, 
this consummate military professional's commitment to his Nation is 
driven by much more profound reasons. My wife Beverly and I have seen 
personally that he is a man who cares deeply for our men and women in 
uniform, their families, and the families of the fallen and missing. 
Admiral Mike Mullen, along with his wife Deborah, have passionately 
represented our men and women in uniform, particularly those who have 
returned from this

[[Page E1670]]

decade's wars as they and their families heal from wounds both seen and 
unseen. His attention to our most critically wounded has been a 
testament to his willingness to ensure our wounded Service Members and 
their families receive the best care and support the Nation has to 
offer. I have no doubt his commitment to these Americans, who have 
given so much, will indeed endure far beyond his days in uniform.
  The United States Navy, the Department of Defense and the Nation will 
dearly miss one of its most respected and valued leaders as Admiral 
Mike Mullen leaves active duty and this Congressman and my wife Beverly 
will deeply miss his counsel on many important issues and most 
important his personal friendship. We will miss his humility, his 
selflessness, his candor and his integrity. When history looks back at 
this leader and his legacy it will be clear that his leadership 
produced the best military the world has ever known.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work closely with Admiral Mike 
Mullen over the last several years of his long and decorated career. On 
behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing 
and commending Admiral Mike Mullen for a lifetime of service to his 
country. For all he and his family have given and continue to give to 
our country; we are in their debt. We wish him, his wife Deborah, and 
his two sons, John and Michael, all the best in his retirement.

                          ____________________