[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT GENERAL DOUGLAS H. OWENS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AFTER MORE THAN 33 YEARS OF 
                            FAITHFUL SERVICE

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate 
Lieutenant General Douglas H. Owens on the occasion of his retirement 
from the United States Air Force after more than 33 years of faithful 
service. Lieutenant General Owens will retire on October 1, 2013, 
concluding his duty as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training 
Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
   General Owens is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours in 
various aircraft, including the T-37, T-38, T-41, T-6 and A/OA-10. He 
flew combat missions in the first A-10 squadron deployed to operations 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has commanded at the squadron, group 
and wing levels, and served in a variety of operational and staff 
positions. These include assignments in the Headquarters U.S. Air Force 
Checkmate Division and Operations Directorate on the Joint Staff, 
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
other operations worldwide. He has also served as a numbered air force 
vice commander and as deputy commander of a joint task force for 
Pacific Command. General Owens has served five tours in the Pacific, 
including an assignment as the Vice Commander of Pacific Air Forces 
supporting combat readiness, theater security cooperation, enhanced 
force posture and presence throughout the theater.
   General Owens is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and 
obtained his Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix in 1988. He 
is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff 
College, and National War College where he earned a second Masters 
degree in 1998. General and Mrs. Owens have two adult children: John 
and Michael, and four grandchildren. Both John and Michael have 
continued the family tradition of service and are also currently 
serving as officers in the Air Force.
   Among his many military duties that spanned his career and included 
18 Permanent Change of Station moves, General Owens served as the 36th 
Wing Commander at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is during this 
assignment that I had the opportunity to get to know both General Owens 
and his wife Teresa. During his tenure as the Wing Commander he was 
responsible for the conduct of the Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber 
Presence, Theater Security Packages, numerous exercises supporting the 
region, and contingency response operations from Andersen Air Force 
Base. General Owens was responsible for the well-being of more than 
8,000 military and civilian personnel on Andersen AFB and also was 
tasked to ensure the successful employment, deployment, integration, 
and enabling of air and space forces from the most forward sovereign 
U.S. Air Force base in the Pacific. His leadership was critical during 
the stand-up of Joint Region Marianas and during the planning phases 
for the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. He also continued 
to ensure successful implementation of certain portions of the current 
Pacific Airpower Resiliency strategy. Additionally, his support of the 
local community on Guam was extraordinary, and I am very thankful for 
the lasting relationships he built between the military and civilian 
community which remain strong today.
   I again congratulate Lieutenant General Owens on the occasion of his 
retirement. I join the people of Guam in commending him for his 
exceptional service to our great nation and thanking him for his 
contributions to our community. Although General Owens and Teresa will 
be greatly missed, I wish them both all the best as they transition to 
the next stage of their life and enjoy a long and happy retirement 
together.

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