[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO LT. GEN. EUGENE L. TATTINI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2013

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Gen. Eugene L. 
Tattini (ret.), as he concludes 12 years as Deputy Director of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory. Throughout his tenure, Lt. Gen. Tattini has been a strong 
institutional leader, a guiding force behind planetary science and an 
exemplary contributor in his field.
   Prior to his career at JPL, Lt. Gen. Tattini was a distinguished 
graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the 
University of Illinois, and entered the United States Air Force as 
second lieutenant. He received a Master of Business Administration 
degree from Oklahoma City University and holds certificates from both 
the Air War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Lt. 
Gen. Tattini was also selected to attend the Executive Development 
Program at Cornell University and the Program for Senior Managers in 
Government at Harvard University.
   During Gene's 36-year military career, he served in 20 separate 
assignments ranging from a Minuteman II missile combat crew member at 
Grand Forks Base to an air staff acquisition policy staff officer at 
the Pentagon. As commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at 
the Los Angeles Air Force Base, Lt. Gen. Tattini managed the research, 
design, development and acquisition of launch systems and satellites. 
He was also a member of the development team that launched the first 
U.S. anti-satellite weapon against a cooperating space target. Lt. Gen. 
Tattini's decorated and storied military career includes awards such as 
the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Oak leaf 
cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with Three oak leaf clusters, 
to name a few.
   As the Deputy Director at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he was 
responsible for the daily management of JPL resources and activities, 
and oversaw management of programs such as projects related to Mars and 
interplanetary network programs. JPL's highly successful Mars rover 
program has pushed the boundaries of robotic exploration and has 
inspired a new generation of scientists. Other JPL missions will help 
us understand Earth's climate and explore distant planets and galaxies. 
These programs and activities have created job opportunities for 
thousands locally and nationally, and have continued JPL's distinction 
and prominence in space exploration.
   It is with great appreciation and respect that I congratulate Lt. 
Gen. Eugene L. Tattini today upon 48 years of public service. The time 
and energy Lt. Gen. Tattini put in to his work is extraordinary and 
people nationwide have benefited greatly from his dedicated service. 
Applauding his commitment and dedication to NASA's JPL and its work, I 
now proudly ask you all to join me in commending Lt. Gen. Eugene L. 
Tattini for his lifetime of service to our country.

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