[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1928-S1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL ROBERT F. WILLARD

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor a distinguished 
naval officer and a true patriot. Having just passed the torch of 
command for U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Robert F. Willard will hang 
up one last time the uniform he first donned almost four decades ago. 
On the eve of his retirement, it is fitting to memorialize in the 
annals of this chamber Admiral Willard's years of selfless service to 
our Nation.
  A Los Angeles native, Admiral Willard graduated from the United 
States Naval Academy and was commissioned in 1973. After he completed 
flight training and qualified as a naval aviator, he served in F 14 
fighter squadrons operating off of the aircraft carriers USS 
Constellation, USS Ranger, and USS Kitty Hawk. Admiral Willard's 
proficiency in the cockpit led to his assignment to Navy Fighter 
Weapons School, more commonly known as

[[Page S1929]]

TOPGUN, where he served as the operations and executive officer. Many 
may not know that Admiral Willard was the aerial coordinator for the 
1986 movie Top Gun and also appeared in it as a flight instructor. 
Admiral Willard later commanded the famous Screaming Eagles Fighter 
Squadron operating off of the USS Carl Vinson.
  In 1992, following his successful completion of nuclear power 
training, Admiral Willard rejoined the USS Carl Vinson as its executive 
officer. He went on to command the amphibious flagship USS Tripoli and 
the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. As a flag officer, Admiral 
Willard twice served on the Joint Staff, was deputy and chief of staff 
for U.S. Pacific Fleet, commanded Carrier Group Five embarked upon the 
USS Kitty Hawk, and commanded Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan. In 
March 2005, Admiral Willard became the 34th Vice Chief of Naval 
Operations, and in May 2007, he became Commander of the United States 
Pacific Fleet.
  On October 19, 2009, Admiral Willard was appointed as Commander, U.S. 
Pacific Command. He assumed command when much of our focus was still on 
the Middle East and North Africa, and rightly so. Conflicts there, 
however, in no way diminished the importance of the Asia-Pacific, where 
strategically important events unfolded during Admiral Willard's 
command. As the United States rebalances its national security strategy 
and realigns its forces with a greater focus on the Asia-Pacific, 
Admiral Willard's leadership over the last 2 years has laid a critical 
foundation for our security and that of our allies, now and in years to 
come.
  Pacific Command is personally resonant with me. Between 1968 and 
1972, my father held the position, then known as Commander-in-Chief, 
Pacific Command, that Admiral Willard has just relinquished. The 
running joke between Admiral Willard and me has been that he was living 
in my father's old house. And so, of all the praise and accolades I 
could bestow on Admiral Willard for his service to our Nation, the best 
and most appropriate would be: the command undertaken by my father and 
other great men has been admirably served by the leadership of Admiral 
Willard.
  Admiral Willard has always paid tribute to his spouse of 38 years 
Donna, who has been a tireless advocate for the men and women of the 
commands in which she and her husband have served, and a wonderful 
ambassador for the United States and the Navy. And so I extend a 
grateful Nation's thanks to the Willards and their children Jennifer, 
Bryan, and Mark for their exceptional service, best wishes for the next 
chapter in their life, and fair winds and following seas.

                          ____________________