[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 39 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1890-S1891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. JULIAN DAVIDSON

 As a huge crowd gathered on February 4, 2013, at the memorial 
service for my good friend, Dr. Julian Davidson of Huntsville, AL, in 
the magnificent Davidson Center for Space Exploration that bears his 
name, beside the Saturn V rocket, I had to take a moment to consider 
its power and the impact its development made on the world. Our space 
program is the world's greatest technological achievement.
  Less appreciated is the monumental technological achievement of our 
Nation's National Missile Defense System along with all the other 
shorter range missile systems that now protect the Nation from attack 
and accidental launch. Sixteen years ago, campaigning, I would ask 
people what we would do if a nuclear missile were launched at us. 
Usually, someone would say we would shoot it down. That is the correct 
answer today, but not then. No such system had then been deployed but 
people were working on it.
  Former Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote a book, Present at the 
Creation, about the creation of our long lasting foreign policy 
framework. My friend, Dr. Julian Davidson, was present and creating at 
the creation of our colossal, highly technical and effective global 
missile defense system. It is accurate to call him the ``father of 
missile defense.'' And, like a good father, he nurtured the program to 
maturity for 50 years. As an Army Civilian and as a business 
professional, he was a constant and leading force for this amazing 
accomplishment. Launch vehicles in Alaska and California, radar 
detection systems worldwide, and incredibly complex computer systems 
allow this Nation to identify, track, and hit to kill a hostile or 
accidental missile aimed to damage our Nation.
  People doubted it would work, mocked it as Star Wars, but the 
political center held and aided by the scientific and political skills 
of Julian and others the system is now in place. Trust me--it was a 
near run thing. Since Ronald Reagan, it has remained a sore spot for 
Vlademir Putin and a major strategic development.
  This modest, unassuming, gentle but brilliant, strong and determined 
man carried the day. And, blessedly, he could take pride and 
satisfaction in actually seeing it proven and deployed. This was a 
truly historic achievement.
  As a new Senator, elected in 1996, I was aware of Julian's importance 
to Huntsville and national defense. But as the years passed, I came to 
understand more about his remarkable career and why he was so loved and 
respected. For me, and for so many, his importance transcends the 
leadership he has provided to science and technology, to our Nation's 
being dominant in the world in missile defense technology and systems, 
and to our national security--it is personal. He touched so many lives 
in positive and important ways. My respect for his knowledge, his 
unbiased, sound insight, just continued to grow. I was in awe of this 
small man who had done so much, knew so much, and who was so admired in 
the Defense Department, the defense industry, and in Huntsville. I was 
honored that he became a true friend and he gave me his time and 
insight as he did for so many others.
  Last year, I talked with Admiral Syring about his appointment to be 
the new MDA Commander, the agency Julian first directed. When I met 
with Admiral Syring, I asked that he do only one thing. I asked him to 
have a good visit with Julian and promised him he would enjoy and 
benefit from it. Admiral later said they had a wonderful afternoon.
  Now, Julian did love politics and there was an unusual purity about 
his politics. It was an extension of his love for America, I think. 
First and foremost, Julian was a patriot. He was passionately committed 
to classical American values.
  Julian felt that his country had been good to him, that it was a 
positive force in the world, and that it required civic support and 
direction. He was always there to give that support and direction.
  Julian was proud of Davidson Technologies and the 200 engineers and 
people who worked with him there. He made it a premier missile 
technology and systems engineering firm in a very short time. His main 
goal was for the company to meet and exceed contract requirements, to 
be successful, and, importantly, so his people could prosper and be 
fulfilled and do their work with integrity. He was very proud that he 
had created a work environment second to none in Huntsville. The 
company was good to him and he was grateful.
  Julian was exceedingly generous to Huntsville, the place he called 
home. The Davidson Center for Space Exploration is a dramatic example 
of that generosity. He and Dorothy were also great friends of the 
arts--making major gifts to the Davidson Center for the Arts, the 
Huntsville Symphony, the Child Advocacy Center and many other good 
causes. Their long and true partnership was exceedingly important in 
business and civic affairs. Extremely talented in her own right, 
Dorothy loved and admired Julian as he did her. This bond was a key to 
his success.
  Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO of the Space and Rocket Center said, 
``Dorothy and Julian Davidson are renaissance people who care 
passionately about the advancement of technology, the arts, and the 
Huntsville community.'' Truly so.
  So, the gentle, humble man from Oakman, Walker County, AL, son of a 
store owner, went forth and accomplished great things. And he did it 
without bluster, without ego, and without selfishness. He did it with 
skill, hard work, good judgment, honest dealing and respect for his 
fellow man. He did it all with a full dose of that critical quality--
integrity. He believed in work. He was blessed to continue his 
productive work until his last days.

[[Page S1891]]

  We live in a magnificent universe, ordered by providence--too 
wondrous to relate. To an unusual degree, Julian Davidson was given the 
ability and will to develop complex systems that utilize the rules of 
the natural world to make our lives better and to actually control the 
missiles that protect us from attack, even a nuclear attack.
  It is important for the Nation to celebrate Julian's marvelous life 
and accomplishments.

                          ____________________