[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. ASHTON CARTER

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, after 4\1/2\ years at top posts in the 
Pentagon, Dr. Ashton Carter announced last week that in December he 
will be stepping down as Deputy Secretary of Defense. On this occasion, 
I want to recognize Ash's many years of distinguished public service--
as a scholar, a professional, and a national leader. In so doing, I 
also thank him for his outstanding leadership of the 2.2 million 
uniformed and civilian members of the Department of Defense and his 
unwavering support of their most important mission.
  Much can be said of Ash's scholarship. He graduated at the top of his 
class with honors from Yale University, earning degrees in medieval 
history and physics. His academic achievement also earned Ash a Rhodes 
scholarship, which sent him to Oxford University, where he received a 
doctorate in theoretical physics.
  Much can also be said of Ash's dedication to public service. Before 
assuming his current position as Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ash ably 
served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, 
and Logistics and earlier under President Clinton as the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. Throughout his 
tenure at the Pentagon, Ash received several Defense Distinguished 
Service Medals--the Defense Department's highest civilian award--as 
well as the Defense Intelligence Medal. Ash has also helped to promote 
the Nation's defense from outside the walls of the Pentagon through his 
service on the boards and committees of several defense, international 
security and counterterrorism organizations, as well as at some of the 
world's finest academic institutions.
  In my view, what is just as important as what Ash has done is how he 
has done it. With regard to the Department's procurement practices, Ash 
articulated a cogent strategy to improve the Department's buying power 
and empowered good, talented people throughout the acquisition 
workforce who have long been concerned about government inefficiency to 
implement that strategy effectively. Indeed, it could be said that 
Ash's most significant legacy as the Pentagon's chief weapon's 
purchaser is that he has helped to force the Department to be as 
skilled in buying products and services as industry is in selling them. 
This achievement is perhaps best exemplified, for example, in the 
restructuring of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program; the successful 
award of a contract for an aerial refueling tanker; and making tough 
decisions on some very large, chronically poor-performing weapon 
procurement programs.
  Finally, as Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ash has distinguished 
himself through his professionalism. Indeed, his commitment, skill, 
judgment, and temperament are reminiscent of those of some of the 
Pentagon's finest leaders. There can be no doubt that on many issues 
relating to defense and national security, Ash and I have had our 
differences. Some have been profound. But Ash has always conducted 
himself in a manner that appreciated the valid concerns underlying 
opposing views, while also mindful of the constitutional 
responsibilities of the elected officials who hold them. As a result, 
my working relationship with Ash has always been respectful, candid, 
clear, and productive. More importantly, it has been conducive to 
Congress and the Executive working together to address some of the 
biggest challenges to our national defense.
  With this in mind, I join many in thanking Ash for his service and 
wishing him and his wife Stephanie fair winds and following seas. While 
Ash will move on from the Department in December, knowing his 
insatiable intellectual curiosity and his continuing desire to 
contribute, I suspect he will never be too far away.

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