[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 2 (Friday, January 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING COLONEL SAMI D. SAID

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 4, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Sami D. 
Said for his many years of dedication and service to the United States. 
After almost two years of serving as Commander for the 144th Fighter 
Wing, California Air National Guard, Colonel Said will be promoted to 
the rank of Brigadier General and will serve a tour in Afghanistan.
  Colonel Said has devoted his life to serving the United States. He 
began his career in 1991 at the 159th Fighter Squadron in Jacksonville, 
Florida where he was a Pilot Trainee and then an F-16 Fighter Pilot. 
Colonel Said held other duties at the 159th Fighter Squadron, including 
Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Instructor Pilot, Weapons 
Officer, and Squadron Operations Officer.
  In June 2003, Colonel Said completed his time with the 159th Fighter 
Squadron and went on to become the Commander of the 125th Aircraft 
Maintenance Squadron. He was also the Wing Special Projects Officer 
(ORI) and the Chief of Wing Operations for the 125th Fighter Wing. 
After spending two years with the 125th Fighter Wing, Colonel Said 
served as a National Security Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of 
Government.
  Colonel Said worked in Washington, DC, for three years serving at the 
Pentagon from 2008 to 2011. He worked in the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense as a Military Assistant to the Department of Defense Transition 
Team and Chief of Staff/Senior Military Assistant to the Under 
Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
  Along with his vast experience and knowledge, Colonel Said has 
received numerous awards and decorations. These include the Defense 
Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf 
clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
  In April 2011, Colonel Said became the Commander for the 144th 
Fighter Wing in Fresno, California. While he was in Fresno for a short 
period of time, our community benefited from his time here. We will be 
sad to see him go. As he moves on to proudly serve our country overseas 
in Afghanistan, Colonel Said's expertise and many years of experience 
will be greatly missed at the 144th Fighter Wing.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonel 
Sami Said on his upcoming promotion to the rank of Brigadier General 
and wish him well in his next tour of service. Our country will always 
be gracious for his hard work and unwavering service.

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