[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING MILITARY SERVICE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL 
       CHARLES E. STENNER, JR. ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AUSTIN SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2012

  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize 
Lieutenant General Charles E. Stenner, Jr., upon his retirement after 
39 years of distinguished military service to our Great nation in the 
United States Air Force and the United States Air Force Reserve.
  General Stenner was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1973 and 
went on to fly the F-4, A-10, and F-16 aircraft. General Stenner's last 
military assignment was as both Chief of the Air Force Reserve, 
Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, and Commander, Air Force 
Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. As Chief of the Air 
Force Reserve, he served as principal adviser on reserve matters to the 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Commander of Air Force Reserve 
Command, he had full responsibility for the supervision of all U.S. Air 
Force Reserve units around the world.
  General Stenner led a modernization effort of the Air Force Reserve 
which increased combat effectiveness and improved response capabilities 
to humanitarian crises and disaster relief operations in the United 
States as well as operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, 
Libya, Japan, Haiti, and numerous other locations around the globe. 
General Stenner moved the Air Force Reserve from a Cold-War-model, or 
``Strategic Reserve,'' to a full partner major command through his Air 
Force Reserve 2012 initiative. Creating a cultural shift in both Active 
and Reserve Components, he was able to rebuild the Air Force Reserve's 
infrastructure to support its newly evolved twin missions of being 
first and foremost a ``Strategic Reserve'' that can be leveraged to 
support daily operations as an ``Operational Reserve.''
  After conducting more than 20 years of continual combat operations, 
the Air Force Reserve's success is evident today. General Stenner's 
efforts were critical to implementing new policies supporting Air Force 
Reservists, their civilian employers, and their families who were 
impacted by increased Reserve operations. thanks to his continuous 
dialogue with Congress, reservists now get improved health care, new 
credits toward retirement, inactive duty training travel pay, and post-
9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.
  Because of General Stenner's visionary leadership, planning, and 
foresight, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the United 
States will long reap the benefits of his many years of service. I 
thank General Stenner for his many years of dedicated service I wish 
him and his wife Dee the very best as they enter retirement.

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