[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1815-E1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ROBIN J. COPELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robin J. 
Copeland, who passed away on October 30, 2011 at the young age of 46.
  Ms. Copeland served this great Nation with honor and dignity for many 
years. She had a very distinguished career in international diplomacy, 
nonproliferation, and scientific engagement.
  She began government service working in Russia in 1991, where she 
became the U.S. Department of Energy's attach at the U.S. Embassy in 
Moscow. At the time, this was our largest Embassy in the world. She 
later served in Moscow with the U.S. Agency for International 
Development. In this role, she became the first woman and first person 
under the age of 50 to hold the office of Chairman of the Interagency 
Council. As an energy specialist, she worked on several non-
proliferation programs that resulted in effectively stemming the spread 
of weapons of mass destruction from the former Soviet Union.
  She also was successful in thwarting proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction, and exporting of technologies and former Soviet scientists 
through her work as the Worldwide Director of Nonproliferation for the 
Civilian Research Development Foundation (CRDF) Global. And due to her 
expertise in non-proliferation, she took part in contractor efforts to

[[Page E1816]]

monitor Libya's nuclear programs following the return of Libyan WMD to 
the United States in 2003.
  In addition to her work on non-proliferation issues, she used her 
expertise on Russia and developed and implemented the U.S. program that 
trains Russian doctors with our doctors in Africa involved in the 
treatment and care of those with HIV/AIDS.
  Ms. Copeland was born in Florida and grew up in Connecticut, but she 
and her family have deep roots in West Texas where her parents and 
grandparents are Dimmitt, Texas natives. In honor of Ms. Copeland, 
Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, has developed a scholarship 
for students interested in using scientific and technical skills to 
promote peace internationally. This is a very unique scholarship as it 
is the only one of its kind at any major university in America.
  I congratulate Texas Tech University in developing this scholarship, 
and I think it is a great honor to a great American who served this 
country with such distinction. I send my thoughts to her family, and it 
is my distinct pleasure to honor Robin Copeland.

                          ____________________