[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNITION OF GENERAL (RET.) BRUCE CARLSON, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL 
                         RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2012

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today we recognize General (ret.) 
Bruce Carlson, who will step down as the Director of the National 
Reconnaissance Office in July 2012 after three years of exemplary 
leadership.
  General Carlson leaves a legacy of remarkable accomplishments with 
the National Reconnaissance Office including, the most aggressive 
launch campaign in a quarter of a century, all major systems 
acquisition programs operating at or below budget, a corporate process 
for making critical budget and space architecture decisions, and a 
significantly more healthy space reconnaissance constellation. General 
Carlson's dedicated leadership; integrity and hard work have positioned 
the National Reconnaissance Office for continued success that will have 
an enduring impact on our national security.
  Prior to his time at the National Reconnaissance Office, General 
Carlson had a distinguished career spanning over 37 years with the U.S. 
Air Force. He began his military career as a commissioned officer in 
1971 after graduating with distinction from the Air Force Reserve 
Officer Training program at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He is 
a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in ten different 
aircraft, and saw combat as a forward air controller in the OV-10 
Bronco. His various flying assignments included commanding the 49th 
Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, the Air Force's 
first stealth fighter wing. His staff assignments included positions at 
Tactical Air Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and the offices of 
the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense. He also served 
as the Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment on the 
Joint Staff; Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, 
Louisiana; and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and 
Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Prior to 
his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, General Carlson served as 
Commander Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 
Ohio, which is responsible for development, testing, acquisition and 
sustainment of Air Force weapons systems. In that role, he had 
responsibility for 74,000 people and $59 billion annually. He was 
promoted from Lieutenant General to General, pinning on his fourth 
star, on September 1, 2005.
  He and his wife, Vicki, are very proud of their three children and 
ten grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Bruce Carlson has been a dedicated public servant, both 
in his service to his country in the U.S. military and as a senior 
executive at the National Reconnaissance Office. It is appropriate that 
we honor him today for his many contributions.

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