[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 138 (Thursday, November 13, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5983-S5984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                  Lieutenant General Peter M. Vangjel

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a 
distinguished public servant and officer in the U.S. Army, LTG Peter M. 
Vangjel. General Vangjel served as the 64th Army inspector general and 
retires on February 1, 2015, after more than 37 years of selfless 
service to our Nation. Throughout his professional life, General 
Vangjel personified the Army values of duty, honor, and selfless 
service in leadership roles around the world and here at home. Many of 
us on Capitol Hill know General Vangjel by these qualities and have 
enjoyed the opportunity to work with him on a wide variety of Army 
issues and programs. It is my privilege to recognize his many 
significant contributions.
  General Vangjel is a native of New Hampshire and graduated from the 
University of New Hampshire in 1977. He served in a variety of command 
and staff assignments and has led our soldiers in both peace and war, 
in combat and humanitarian missions, in the United States, Europe, 
Asia, and the Middle East. He has proven himself as a stellar leader 
demonstrating unselfish devotion to the Nation, our leaders, soldiers 
and their families.
  For the final 3 years of his noteworthy career, General Vangjel 
served as the Army inspector general, providing independent and 
unbiased advice to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army. His 
advice, assistance, and detailed oversight of timely, high-visibility 
inspections and investigations proved critical for an adaptive Army in 
transition. He personally led multiple efforts to promote readiness, 
resource stewardship and accountability of equipment, funds, personnel 
and leader behavior.
  As he has throughout his career, General Vangjel embraced his charter 
to conduct outreach to our Army's leaders, soldiers, families, and the 
public at every opportunity, stressing the importance of resource 
management and creativity. Nowhere was this more evident than during 
his 2-year assignment to the Middle East, where he supervised efforts 
that provided nearly $8 billion dollars in cost avoidance and 
streamlined contracting and logistic support efforts as our troops 
surged in to Afghanistan and retrograded from Iraq. His vision, 
passion, and energy kept key military and civilian leaders aware of 
emerging trends enabling them to correct problems and anticipate future 
challenges.
  General Vangjel led his team in conducting many significant 
inspections enabling our Army to address critical issues, revise 
policies, and improve processes. His special inspections of Arlington 
National Cemetery restored effective oversight and reinstilled public 
confidence in the effort to honor our fallen heroes at a place sacred 
to all Americans. Likewise, his team's work to help our suffering 
soldiers receive more efficient behavioral health treatment within the 
Integrated Disability Evaluation System brought to light new 
information about process issues and the need for better coordination 
and support from Veterans Affairs. In addition, during his tenure, the 
Army inspector general performed vital compliance oversight inspections 
for some of our Nation's most sensitive activities, including nuclear 
and chemical research and development centers, intelligence oversight, 
and information assurance operations.
  LTG Peter M. Vangjel has consistently provided superb leadership, 
advice, and sound professional judgment on numerous critical issues of 
enduring importance to the Army and our Nation. On behalf of Congress 
and the United States of America, I thank General Vangjel, his wife 
Joanne, and his entire family for their commitment and contributions to 
our Army and the Nation, and I congratulate them both on an exceptional 
career of selfless service.

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