[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO GENERAL NORTON A. SCHWARTZ

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor GEN Norton A. 
Schwartz. General Schwartz will soon officially retire after 39 years 
as an Air Force officer, the last 4 spent as Chief of Staff. Throughout 
his career, on the front lines and in the ``corporate'' Air Force, 
General Schwartz served our Nation selflessly and ably, with dedication 
and distinction.
  I came to know General Schwartz when he was appointed Chief of Staff 
of the Air Force in August 2008. He began his leadership at a very 
difficult time. Controversy surrounded the Air Force's acquisition 
activities and the control of our Nation's nuclear arsenal. The Air 
Force's attempt to acquire aerial refueling tanker aircraft had been 
mired in scandal and missteps, while the service had just come off two 
incidents of mishandling nuclear missiles and related materials.
  General Schwartz established a command climate that helped the 
service make the changes needed to address these issues. For example, 
General Schwartz insisted on fully restoring excellence and integrity 
to the Air Force's acquisition workforce and practices. He succeeded. 
After years of failed attempts to get the tanker replacement program 
under contract, the Air Force conducted a source-selection for the 
program, under full-and-open competition, that serves as a textbook 
example of how the Department of Defense should award contracts for its 
largest and most expensive weapon systems. Today, the Air Force's 
strategy to acquire these tankers is sound. It can certainly be said 
that under General Schwartz's leadership, this program is, for the 
first time in its checkered history, well-positioned for success.
  Through his thoughtful temperament and purposeful humility, General 
Schwartz also helped restore Congress's confidence in the Air Force's 
acquisition practices and its management of the critical national 
security resources entrusted to it. For this, both the warfighter and 
the taxpayer will remain in his debt.
  During public hearings before the Armed Services Committee and in our 
private meetings, I always appreciated General Schwartz's ``straight 
talk'' about Air Force programs and operations. Despite his unwavering 
dedication to the Air Force, General Schwartz was never afraid to talk 
about the hard truths, to propose solutions to problems, and to see 
those solutions through. Neither was he shy about lauding the many 
excellent people and accomplishments of the Air Force.
  So I extend a grateful nation's thanks to GEN Norton A. Schwartz and 
his wife Suzie for their service to our Nation and wish them every 
success in the next chapter in their life together.

                          ____________________