[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO NANETTE A. NADEAU

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I wish to honor 
Mrs. Nanette A. Nadeau, who on June 3, 2012, at Peterson Air Force 
Base, CO, will retire after over 36 years of Federal civil service. 
Nanette is the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for the North 
American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. She has 
been an enduring presence and focal point for all congressional matters 
and our interaction with the commands.
  Legislative liaisons facilitate communication between their agencies 
and Congress, effectively bridging our organizational cultures. These 
professionals require expert, almost insider, knowledge of 
Congressional procedure, committee structure, and legislative process. 
My office depends heavily on the rapport we have with military liaisons 
for timely, transparent dialogue. Nanette has exemplified the best of 
what we have come to appreciate.
  Nanette is a native of Jefferson, NH. She attended White Mountain 
Regional High School where she had the distinction of recruiting the 
band Aerosmith to play at her senior prom. While her high school 
accomplishments were legendary, it was on a day she was absent from 
school that would change her life's course--the day she met a young 
soldier, Douglas Nadeau. Doug had received a call that day from a young 
lady who wanted to skip class with a couple friends, but they needed a 
ride because the school was several miles from town. Nanette was one of 
the friends. They married in June of 1974 and headed out together as 
Doug continued to serve our country around the world.
  In the military, there is an adage that ``home is wherever the 
service sends you,'' and over the years the Nadeaus called places like 
Germany, Georgia, and Virginia home. Like other military spouses, 
Nanette made sacrifices along the way as she bounced from one civil 
service job to the next, sometimes settling for a lower grade. She 
started her Federal service career as a General Schedule-2, sorting 
mail in the Post Office in Giessen, Germany. Finding her niche in 
legislative affairs, she earned a reputation for excellence and was 
promoted over time to General Schedule-14 . Despite enduring frequent 
moves, Nanette found time to earn her bachelor's degree from The 
College of William & Mary, graduating summa cum laude, and later added 
an MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, also summa 
cum laude, all while working full time.
  After having seen the world, the Nadeaus felt most at home in 
Colorado. Fort Carson was where Doug was stationed when they were 
married and they returned in 1987 for Doug's last assignment, 
eventually deciding to settle in the Colorado Springs area. During her 
tenure as a legislative liaison, Nanette has prepared countless pages 
of testimony and led numerous congressional visits. She has 
orchestrated visits for my staff and me to military installations in 
the local community, including Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases 
and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. A pinnacle moment for Nanette 
was being awarded the well-deserved honor of Civilian of the Year in 
2006.
  Around NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Nanette has become known for her 
discretion, interpersonal skill, and sharp sense of humor. She enjoys a 
level of trust with her colleagues that can only be earned over time. 
Nanette will leave an indelible mark on NORAD and USNORTHCOM and her 
institutional knowledge and savvy analysis of legislative activity will 
be hard to replace. However, she can take pride in the knowledge that 
she leaves her post better than she found it, and be confident that her 
legacy will endure through those she has mentored over the years.
  On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Nanette for her many years of 
faithful, selfless service and offer warm congratulations on the 
occasion of her retirement. May she and Doug enjoy a very bright 
future.

                          ____________________