[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL TIM SCHEPPER

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam President, today I wish to 
recognize LTC Tim Schepper, who on July 15, 2013, became the first 
pilot to log 5,000 hours in the B-1 aircraft.
  Lieutenant Colonel Schepper is a senior evaluator for the 28th 
Operations Group and a B-1 pilot at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South 
Dakota. His impressive flying record on the B-1 highlights an Air Force 
career that spans 27 years, including two stints totaling over 14 years 
at Ellsworth. His record of 5,000 hours is well ahead of any other B-1 
pilot in the Air Force. It is nearly 1,800 hours more than any pilot at 
Ellsworth and nearly 800 hours more than anyone Air Force-wide. Over 
one-quarter of his flying time, 1,300 hours, are combat hours.
  He grew up on a ranch near Vargas, MN and joined the Air Force in 
1986. In addition to his various duty assignments at Ellsworth, 
Lieutenant Colonel Schepper has also been stationed at bases in 
California, Texas, Mississippi and North Dakota and served 3 years as 
B-1 Functional Area Manager, B-1 Realistic Training Manager, Deputy 
Chief Flight Operations and Training Branch at Air Combat Command 
Headquarters in Langley, VA. From June 2010 to June 2011, he served as 
Deputy Commander, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, in Southwest 
Asia.
  His major awards and accomplishments include the Bronze Star Medal; 
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; 
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters; Air Force 
Combat Action Medal; Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; 
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters; National Defense 
Service Medal with bronze star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; 
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Aerial 
Achievement Medal; and Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.
  Lt. Col. Schepper's feat underscores the great work of all B-1 
personnel in the Air Force as well as civilian personnel from Boeing, 
who have been working on the B-1 program since it was introduced to the 
Air Force 30 years ago. According to Boeing's Dan Ruder, who was on 
hand for Lieutenant Colonel Schepper's record-setting flight arrival 
back at Ellsworth, the B-1 ``has nearly 10,000 combat missions logged 
and has been deployed for 8 consecutive years. This day solidifies how 
the B-1 is still a critical element to our national security.''
  Like many Air Force personnel, Lieutenant Colonel Schepper and his 
wife are quick to credit family as well as the military and civilian 
communities for their support over the years. ``My family has always 
supported me significantly,'' said the Ellsworth pilot. ``I've had five 
deployments over the past 10 years, and obviously as everyone knows, 
when you're away from home there are a lot of things that still need to 
be done. My wife and my kids had to endure and do a lot of things to 
make up for when I wasn't around.''
  Added his wife, Tania, ``We have been part of this community for so 
long. He didn't just accomplish this on his own. It takes maintenance, 
and it takes the help and support of other pilots, and community 
members.''
  Lieutenant Colonel Schepper will be retiring in August, and I 
congratulate him on his impressive flying record, as well as his 
distinguished military service career, both of which serve as great 
standards of achievement for military personnel and the civilian 
community. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

                          ____________________