[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 163 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO GENERAL ROBERT ``BOB'' KEHLER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JEFF FORTENBERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate General 
Robert ``Bob'' Kehler of United States Strategic Command on his 
retirement from the Air Force after 38 years of outstanding service to 
our country. I would also like to thank his wife Marjorie for her 
selfless sacrifice throughout his career, as well as the sacrifices of 
their two sons, Matt and Jared.
  General Kehler's nearly three years as the head of STRATCOM caps an 
accomplished career that began in 1975 as a distinguished graduate of 
the Pennsylvania State University Air Force Reserve Officers' Training 
Corps program. Early in his service, he developed expertise in the 
nuclear enterprise as commander of Minuteman intercontinental ballistic 
missile squadrons at Whiteman Air Force Base, the 30th Space Wing at 
Vandenberg Air Force Base, the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force 
Base, and at Air Force Space Command.
  The General held numerous additional leadership positions in the Air 
Force throughout his many years of service. He represented the 
Secretary of the Air Force on Capitol Hill as the Legislative Liaison 
and was point man for the President's intercontinental ballistic 
missile modernization initiative. After his time on Capitol Hill, 
General Kehler assumed the position of Director of the National 
Security Space Office and was tasked with integrating a number of our 
military's space organizations.
  General Kehler has been a forward-thinking leader as evidenced by his 
achievement transferring the ICBM mission to the Air Force Global 
Strike Command and helping to create the 24th Air Force to execute the 
evolving and critical cyberspace mission. With his important work in 
these areas, there is no doubt that the United States is more prepared 
today to face the challenges and threats confronting us in the nuclear 
and cyber domains.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the good fortune to work with General Kehler 
on a number of occasions as the U.S. Representative for Strategic 
Command's headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. 
He is a brilliant thinker and I know that he has contributed 
immeasurably to SRATCOM's global missions.
  It is my distinct honor to lead my fellow Members of Congress in 
thanking General Robert ``Bob'' Kehler for his exceptional years of 
service and to wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________