[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KEITH DETERS

  Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I wish to congratulate Keith Deters on 
his retirement and to recognize his impressive career.
  Keith has been with General Dynamics for 32 years and has served as 
plant manager of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, JSMC, 
previously known as the Lima Army Tank Plant, for the past 11 years.
  Keith grew up in Ohio and received his bachelor's degree in 
organizational management from Bluffton College and earned his MBA from 
the University of Findlay. He now resides in Lima with his wife Donna. 
They have two sons and five grandsons
  During Keith's tenure as plant manager at JSMC, the plant addressed a 
number of service programs, including the future combats systems, 
expeditionary fighting vehicle, ground combat vehicle, Mk46 Navy 
turret, Abrams SEP, Abrams TUSK armor, MRAP Cougar, Abrams heavy 
assault bridge, joint light tactical vehicle prototypes, Stryker family 
of vehicles, Stryker armor upgrade programs, Stryker slat armor kit, 
tank urban survivability kit, Merkava Namer APC, Abrams Egyptian FMS, 
Australian Abrams AIM FMS, KSA Abrams FMS, and the Iraq Abrams FMS.
  In addition, Keith has been at the forefront of developing next-
generation combat vehicle capabilities, and under his supervision while 
plant manager innovative prototype structures built at JSMC included 
the joint assault bridge, heavy assault bridge, joint light tactical 
vehicle, ground combat vehicle, amphibious combat vehicle, 
expeditionary fighting vehicle, future combat vehicle, Stryker slat 
armor kit, common ballistic shield, hull protection kit, Stryker 
reactive armor kit, tank urban survivability kit, mine roller kit, 
commanders remote operation weapon system, hull system demonstrator, 
and Scout vehicle.
  Outside of work, Keith has been actively involved in the Lima 
community. He has served on numerous boards including the United Way of 
Greater Lima, the Ohio State University at Lima, the Ohio Energy & 
Advanced Manufacturing Center, Allen-Lima Leadership, and the Allen 
Economic Development Group. Keith is also a member of the Lima Rotary 
Club and Task Force Lima.
  Keith is a supporter of his local Make A Wish Foundation and has been 
involved with Operation Christmas Tank, Family Day at JSMC for Lima 
employees and their families, the West Central Ohio Manufacturing 
Consortium with Rhodes College, and Lima Senior High School's Moonbuggy 
Project.
  I would like to congratulate Keith on the many contributions he has 
made to JSMC and to the Lima community.

                          ____________________