[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GENERAL CRAIG McKINLEY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, next month, a distinguished member of our 
Armed Forces will retire. I want to recognize and congratulate GEN 
Craig McKinley, who has spent the last 38 years in service to our 
country, and who has led the National Guard through a unique period of 
challenge, change, and triumph.
  General McKinley's service began during another period of dramatic 
change. He received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the 
ROTC program at Southern Methodist University and entered undergraduate 
pilot training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia in 1974. With the 
conclusion of military engagement in Vietnam, the nation's military 
leaders faced a number of questions, including the future role of the 
National Guard. These same questions would later guide General 
McKinley's efforts to lead the National Guard toward its current role 
as an operational force.
  General McKinley has had a distinguished career, including 
assignments as an instructor pilot, the commander of the 125th Fighter 
Wing, the commander of the 1st Air Force, and the commander of the 
Continental United States Region of the North American Aerospace 
Defense Command. He served in the U.S. European Command and as Director 
of the Air National Guard. These assignments culminated in General 
McKinley earning his fourth star as Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 
He did all of this while logging over 4,000 flying hours in a wide 
range of aircraft and earning the rating of command pilot.
  While I could reflect on many notable moments in General McKinley's 
career, I will never forget one in particular. It was November 10, 
2011, when Senator Levin and Senator McCain convened an historic 
hearing of all six sitting Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of 
Defense General Counsel, and General McKinley, to examine a proposal I 
had introduced to add the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff. Despite the arguments against this change by all 
six sitting Joint Chiefs, General McKinley's measured and reasonable 
responses won the day. Ultimately, 71 senators came to agree with 
General McKinley and joined as cosponsors of what is known commonly as 
the second National Guard Empowerment Act. This bill became law in 
December 2011, and General McKinley was a decisive factor in this 
victory for the National Guard. Without his resolve to see the almost 
half a million men and women of the Guard represented at the top 
military panel in the national command structure, we would not have 
triumphed.
  General McKinley has offered steady leadership to the Guard during a 
truly historic period. I am grateful to have had him as a partner. 
Without him, I doubt our nation would have the world-class operational 
reserve that we have today.
  Congratulations, General McKinley. Best wishes to you, Cheryl, 
Patrick, and Christina as you retire to civilian life.

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