[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 147 (Thursday, December 4, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6347-S6348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO GENERAL CHARLES H. JACOBY, JR.

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, in a few short weeks a 
thoughtful and inspirational military leader will retire after serving 
his country proudly for 36 years. Today I recognize and commend my good 
friend GEN Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., of the U.S. Army for his exceptional 
leadership over those 36 years, most recently in his role as commander 
of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States 
Northern Command. It has been a tremendous pleasure to work closely 
with General Jacoby. I know many of my

[[Page S6348]]

colleagues join me in congratulating him on a job well done and in 
wishing him well as he begins a well-deserved retirement.
  General Jacoby graduated from the United States Military Academy at 
West Point in 1978 and received his commission into the infantry as a 
second lieutenant. His command experience include Commander, A Company, 
2d Battalion, Airborne, 325th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort 
Bragg, NC, and Operation URGENT FURY, Grenada; commander, 1st 
Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, 
Fort Bragg, NC; commander, Joint Task Force-Bravo, United States 
Southern Command, Honduras and Operation FUERTE APOYO, Strong Support, 
Hurricane Mitch; commanding general, U.S. Army Alaska and deputy 
commander, United States Alaskan Command; and commanding general, I 
Corps, including a combat tour in Iraq serving as the commanding 
general, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Prior to his current assignment, he 
served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's director, 
Strategic Plans and Policy (J5) and as senior member, U.S. Delegation 
to the United Nations Military Staff Committee, the Joint Staff.
  It was during General Jacoby's assignments as commanding general, 
United States Army Alaska, and deputy commander, United States Alaskan 
Command, that we forged an enduring friendship based on trust and 
mutual respect. We have worked tough issues over the years, and I have 
always known him to be a man of his word. He is a great friend of mine 
and a true friend to Alaska.
  General Jacoby has served as the commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM 
for the past 3\1/2\ years with great distinction. He provided inspired 
vision, strategic focus and priorities, consistent operational and 
organizational excellence, and exceptional hands-on leadership not only 
for the people of his two commands but also in support of the commands' 
many international, interagency, nongovernmental organization, State, 
local, and private sector partners. Further, he honed important working 
relationships between USNORTHCOM and the National Guard, especially in 
implementation and execution of the dual status commander concept.
  Perhaps most importantly, he was recognized earlier this year for his 
efforts to strengthen military ties between the United States and 
Mexico by General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, Secretary of the National 
Defense Forces, and Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz, Secretary of 
the Navy. They honored General Jacoby in a formal military ceremony 
attended by thousands of the Mexican military as the only U.S. military 
officer ever to receive the Mexican Military Merit 1st Class Award and 
the Mexican Naval Award, the highest awards possible for a non-Mexican, 
for his many contributions in support of the Mexican armed forces.
  General Jacoby's unique combination of experience, charismatic 
leadership, and intelligence served him well as the commander during 
difficult times overseas and at home with some tough decisions about 
the future of our country. His long and distinguished record of 
exceptional service to our country serves as the gold standard for 
general officers, and we wish him and his family all the best. To this 
battle-hardened infantry paratrooper, we say a fond ``keep your feet 
and knees together'' as you jump into the next exciting chapter of your 
life.

                          ____________________