[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO SIMON PETER WORDEN, BRIG.GEN., USAF, RET.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 14, 2015

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Simon Peter ``Pete'' 
Worden as he retires from NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, 
California as Director.
   Pete Worden was born in 1949 in Michigan. He earned his BS degree 
from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in astronomy from the 
University of Arizona. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 
United States Air Force on May 1, 1971, and rose through the ranks to 
become Brigadier General in September, 2000. He retired from active 
duty in May, 2004. While on active duty he served in many critical 
positions, including serving as an advisor in the Executive Office of 
the President. At the time of his retirement he was Director of 
Development and Transformation, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air 
Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.
   After retirement from the Air Force, Pete Worden was a Research 
Professor of Astronomy, Optical Sciences and Planetary Sciences at the 
University of Arizona and was a consultant to the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency.
   In May, 2006, Pete Worden became Director of NASA Ames, where he 
served with great distinction. During his tenure at NASA Ames many 
small, low-cost satellites were launched and new thrusts in quantum 
computing were made. Pete can be rightly proud of the revitalization of 
space biology and the development of synthetic biology, and of Ames' 
work on the International Space Station.
   I had the opportunity and privilege to work closely with Pete Worden 
and I know him to be a gracious man of brilliance and integrity. He 
worked with me and GSA on a competitive bid process that resulted in 
the selection of Planetary Ventures, LLC as the lessee to restore 
historic Hangar One and the management of Moffett Federal Airfield. 
Because of this work, Moffett Federal Airfield will remain a federal 
facility, managed under a public-private partnership. This Silicon 
Valley hub for disaster preparedness will be maintained and available 
as needed for federal purposes and significant taxpayer dollars will be 
saved.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House to join me in honoring Pete 
Worden for his extraordinary service to our country which has made us a 
stronger, better nation.

                          ____________________