[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1400-E1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN APPRECIATION OF COLONEL PATRICK T. ``SMACK'' McKENZIE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 2014

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to 
Colonel Patrick T. ``Smack'' McKenzie, on the occasion of his 
retirement from the United States Air Force after 26 years of service.
  I have had the pleasure of working with Smack on a number of 
occasions during his tenure in the Air Force House Liaison Office. I 
greatly appreciate and admire his professionalism, knowledge, and 
dedication, which has benefited me, and numerous other Members and 
staff.
   Colonel McKenzie has given a great deal to this Nation through his 
distinguished and selfless service. He began his Air Force career as an 
ROTC Cadet and a ``Jayhawk'' at the University of Kansas--an allegiance 
he maintains to this day, as evidenced by the Jayhawk lanyard you will 
always see around his neck. Upon graduating in May 1988, he was 
competitively selected for pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas. He was 
the envy of Class 90-06, not only because of his perfectly restored red

[[Page E1401]]

1965 Pontiac GTO affectionately known as ``The Goat'', but also because 
as one of the top graduates, he was awarded the only F-16 training slot 
for the class. He was assigned to the 70th Fighter Squadron at Moody 
AFB, where he was certified as combat-ready and qualified for air-to-
surface, air-to-air, and nuclear missions. He quickly caught the eye of 
his leadership, and was handpicked as one of only 15 squadron pilots 
qualified to operate the new LANTIRN system (Low Altitude Navigation 
and Targeting Infrared for Night). He also caught the eye of his future 
wife, Jennifer, and they have been married now for 21 years. Col. 
McKenzie's skill as a fighter pilot was quickly recognized during his 
first deployment, patrolling the skies over Iraq for Operation Southern 
Watch. His leadership ability earned him a Regular commission and 
selection for Squadron Officer School, where he was a Distinguished 
Graduate.
   Capt. McKenzie was then assigned to the 51st Operations Support 
Squadron at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. He continued to 
impress as a Wing Plans Officer, maintaining critical operational plans 
for wartime taskings. He again rose above his peers as a pilot, winning 
the 51st Fighter Wing's Low Angle Strafe Top Gun award and selection as 
the Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the 51st Operations 
Group--a position reserved for the Group's most skilled and trusted 
pilot. In this position, he was responsible for assessments and 
maintaining operational standards not only in his F-16 squadron, but 
also in the HH-60 rescue flight, and a C-12 flight, a job essential to 
deliver wartime capability. He so impressed his leadership, that even 
as a Captain he was identified as a ``future squadron commander'' and 
was selected for USAF Weapons School, the premier advanced weapons and 
tactics school for our Air Force Pilots. While there, he was praised 
for his research on F-16 Night Close Air Support and Targeting Aids, 
advancing our operational capabilities in this critical capacity. 
Captain McKenzie's training was put to immediate use with his 
assignment to the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He 
flew dozens of combat sorties during Operations Southern Watch, 
Decisive Edge, and Deliberate Guard, enforcing no-fly zones over Iraq 
and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was also a Mission Commander for more than 
six large force packages in NATO's Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, 
for which he garnered praise for his skills, leadership, mission 
execution, and most importantly ensuring zero combat losses. 
Additionally, Smack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 
extraordinary achievement, planning the first NATO strike of Operation 
Allied Force to cross the Kosovo/Serbian border, defeating surface-to-
air missiles, and executing the first-ever F-16 night attack utilizing 
Night Vision Goggles and the LANTIRN system to destroy an ammunition 
storage facility. As a Flight Commander, Weapons Officer, and 
Instructor Pilot he was recognized by his superiors as an ``exceptional 
leader with unlimited potential'', the ``#1 Captain in the Group'', the 
``Wing's top flight commander'', and the USAFE Fighter Pilot of the 
Year. Smack was sent to Air Command and Staff College, where his 
tremendous leadership and team building skills led his peers to 
recognize him as the ``Outstanding Team Member'' for his class. 
Following school, he became the Assignments Officer for nearly 1,500 
Air Force F-16 pilots, single-handedly managing the Air Force's largest 
group of pilots and maintaining 100 percent manning level despite 
historic shortages just after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 
2001.
   Lt. Col. McKenzie then moved to Luke AFB for a short period as the 
56th Operations Support Squadron Operations Officer before being 
entrusted with his first command--the 310th Fighter Squadron ``Top 
Hats''--the largest fighter squadron at Luke, responsible for the only 
formal Forward Air Controller-Airborne course, which has been a vital 
capability in the War on Terror. He was heralded as the ``top warrior 
and leader of 618 officers'' and led his unit to the 56th Operations 
Group ``Top Squadron'' award. Following this highly successful command, 
Lt. Col. McKenzie attended National War College at Fort McNair and 
received a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. He then 
went to U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA where he provided 
readiness analysis on current operations, and was a liaison with the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Government Accountability 
Office, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on all readiness related issues. 
He provided critical data and assessments for the planning of Operation 
Enduring Freedom which were influential in leadership decisions. Col. 
McKenzie then Commanded the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group at 
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. There he profoundly impacted the Global 
War on Terror, directing air operations and leading over 830 troops to 
execute over 24,000 missions, dropping 1.1 million pounds of ordnance, 
and delivering 37,000 tons of cargo--the busiest operation in the 
CENTCOM area of responsibility. Following this tremendous performance, 
Col. McKenzie was challenged with a new role as the SECAF's legislative 
liaison to Congress for all USAF air and space weapon systems, ensuring 
the Air Force message and priorities were consistently and convincingly 
articulated to directly ensure the full authorization of their $120 
billion budget. Smack was then sent back to Osan Air Base, Republic of 
Korea to command the 51st Fighter Wing ``Mustangs'' where he previously 
spent time as a Captain. He was the Joint installation commander for 
over 10,200 personnel, executing the Combat Air Force's largest and 
most highly-utilized A-10 and F-16 operation in a tense location, just 
6 minutes flight time to North Korea. ``A+'', ``inspiring'', and 
``superb'' were just a few words used to describe his tenure there. 
After his highly successful tour as a Wing Commander, the Air Force 
returned Smack to legislative liaison work by assigning him to one of 
the most demanding positions within the Air Force, his current job as 
the Chief of Air Force House Liaison. Since July 2013, Smack has 
advised the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air 
Force, the Director of Legislative Liaison, and numerous other senior 
military and civilian leaders on issues of the greatest concern to the 
Air Force and Congress. He has been more than a liaison between the 
Pentagon and the Hill, he developed and improved key relationships to 
enable the Congress to make better decisions about the future of the 
Air Force and our national defense. He is extremely intelligent and 
articulate, and has helped shape my thinking and influenced many 
Members of Congress. Simply put, we trust him and will miss him!
   Col. McKenzie is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours and 
630 combat hours in the F-16. He is the recipient of numerous major 
medals and decorations for his service and accomplishments. The most 
significant of these include the Defense Superior Service medal, Legion 
of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Meritorious 
Service medal.
   Throughout his distinguished career he has represented our country 
and the Air Force with dignity and honor, and this is why I'm so 
privileged to pay tribute to this fine Airman. Mr. Speaker, on behalf 
of the Congress and the United States of America, I thank Colonel 
Patrick McKenzie, his wife Jennifer, and their daughter Ashleigh, for 
their service and sacrifices of the past 26 years. I wish them 
Godspeed, and continued happiness as they start this new chapter in 
their lives.

                          ____________________