[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 66 (Monday, May 5, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2646-S2647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO CHRIS EDEN

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Lt. Col. 
Christopher Robert Eden on his retirement from the United States Air 
Force. Lieutenant Colonel Eden is retiring after nearly 21 years of 
service to our country. He was born at Williams AFB, Arizona, in 1970 
and grew up in the shadows of one of our Nation's finest service 
academies, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 
Inspired by his grandfather who flew B-29s in World War II and his 
father and uncle who both graduated from the Academy and were Air Force 
pilots, Chris dreamed of someday following in their footsteps. In 1989, 
he was recruited to play baseball at the Air Force Academy Preparatory 
School and later accepted an appointment to the Academy. He graduated 
in the class of 1994, having been selected as a Rugby All-American 
during his senior year. Upon graduation, Chris received one of several 
coveted pilot training slots available at Reece AFB, Texas, and 
graduated in 1995 as the top T-1 Graduate.
  During his first assignment flying C-21As at Yokota Air Base, Japan, 
Chris transported high-level dignitaries traveling throughout Asia and 
the Pacific, including diplomatic missions to North Korea. While 
fulfilling this assignment, he was upgraded to Instructor Pilot and was 
assigned to fly the C-17A at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. Here, 
Chris commanded emergency nuclear airlift, aeromedical evacuation, 
humanitarian relief, Presidential support,

[[Page S2647]]

and combat missions to support Operations Allied Force, Southern Watch, 
Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.
  In his next assignment as Chief of Flight Operations and Acceptance/
Test Pilot at the Boeing C-17A Plant in Long Beach, CA, Chris tested 
and accepted new C-17A aircraft, developed and flew the first 
commercial C-17 FAA noise certification tests, developed crew training 
and aircraft delivery procedures, and authored and implemented new fuel 
tank leak check procedures. While serving in Long Beach, he upgraded to 
Evaluator Pilot, and his unit was honored with the Department of 
Defense Flight Operations of the Year Award.
  As Chief of C-17A Requirements at Headquarters Air Mobility Command 
at Scott AFB, Illinois, Chris helped continue to grow the C-17A fleet 
while receiving a Masters in Management and Leadership from Webster 
University. In his final year at Scott AFB, he was selected to fly in 
the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
  As chief of training and chief pilot at Andrews, Chris transported 
our Nation's leaders in two administrations, including the Vice 
President, the First Lady, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, 
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. During this assignment, he was 
upgraded to Evaluator Pilot and trained the squadron's newest pilots to 
adhere to the highest SAMFOX standards of the 1st Airlift Squadron's 
no-fail missions.
  During his Air Force career, Chris flew more than 5,100 hours and 
received many awards, including the Joint Service Achievement Medal, 
the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Aerial 
Achievement Medal. Throughout his accomplishments, Chris proved to be 
an effective and humble leader, displaying dedication, loyalty, and 
respect to the mission and the Air Force. His exceptional character 
should make us all proud that we have men and women like Chris serving 
in our Armed Forces.
  I congratulate Lt. Col. Christopher Robert Eden for his many 
achievements and honors, but most of all, I thank him for his for 
exemplary service to our country. Fly Safe and Go Zoomies!

                          ____________________