[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 109 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1287-E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING DR. DEREK WILLARD, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR 
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AT THE 
                           UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID LOEBSACK

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2012

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the long, 
successful, and highly dedicated career of Dr. Derek H. Willard, the 
Special Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations and the 
Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Iowa in Iowa 
City, Iowa. Derek has served the University of Iowa, the Iowa City 
community, and the State of Iowa for almost three decades with 
admirable leadership, devotion, and loyalty. I have worked closely with 
him since I came to Congress six years ago, and it has truly been a 
privilege to witness and work with someone so focused on advocating on 
behalf of Iowans.
  Prior to coming to the University of Iowa, Derek earned his 
bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1964, a 
master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and served 
as a faculty member at the United States Air Force Academy. His own 
research brought him to the Hawkeye State, where he earned his 
doctorate degree in 1975 and began his long career at the University of 
Iowa.
  Since 1999, Derek has been the primary contact for federal relations 
and the Iowa Board of Regents at the University of Iowa, which is not 
only a top tier public university of over 45,000 students, faculty and 
staff but also a premier national research institution. He has overseen 
external funding for the University, and, under his leadership, funding 
secured by the University from organizations such as the National 
Institute of Health has increased from about $70 million annually to 
more than $386 million in 2008.
  Prior to his appointment as federal liaison, Derek served 17 years as 
Associate Vice President for Research, a position he still holds today 
and which demonstrates his impressive dedication to the University of 
Iowa's research mission. He also currently serves as a faculty member 
in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and previously 
served as Director of Behavioral Sciences.
  Among many career highlights, Derek played a pivotal role in securing 
funding and space on the University of Iowa campus for the National 
Advanced Driving Simulator. He also served as project director on a $2 
million Higher Education Disaster Relief Grant, which provided much 
needed federal assistance in the wake of the Floods of 2008 that 
devastated the University of Iowa campus. Derek was recently recognized 
by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities with a 
Lifetime Achievement Award for governmental relations.
  The many successes he has achieved both for the University of Iowa 
and on a personal level demonstrate Derek's incredible dedication, 
professionalism, and commitment. On a personal level, I am grateful for 
Derek's helpfulness to my office in numerous generous

[[Page E1288]]

ways. His encyclopedic knowledge of University activities and his 
intelligent, openhanded advice has greatly helped me advocate on behalf 
of the University of Iowa, its students, and its faculty and staff. My 
staff and I will always cherish his graciousness, his wisdom, and his 
thoughtfulness.
  On behalf of all Iowans, I would like to thank Derek for his years of 
service to the University of Iowa, the State of Iowa, and our nation. I 
know I join his colleagues, friends, and loved ones in wishing him well 
in his retirement.

                          ____________________