[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3054-S3055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

              TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL R. MARTIN UMBARGER

 Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I recognize and honor the 
extraordinary service of MG R. Martin Umbarger, the Adjutant General of 
Indiana, and to wish him well upon his retirement. A dedicated and 
loyal public servant, Major General Umbarger has served the people of 
Indiana and the United States in the Indiana Army National Guard for 
more than 45 years.
  A native of Bargersville, IN, Major General Umbarger enlisted in the 
Indiana Army National Guard in 1969 after graduating from the 
University of Evansville. Shortly thereafter, in June 1971, he was 
commissioned as a second lieutenant, Infantry Branch, following his 
graduation from the Indiana Military Academy as a Distinguished 
Military Graduate. Since then, he has dedicated more than four decades 
to serving his State and his country. Some of his notable assignments 
include serving as Commanding General of the 76th Infantry Brigade; the 
Assistant Division Commander for Training, 38th Infantry Division; and 
the Deputy Commanding General, Reserve Component, U.S. Forces Command. 
On March 11, 2004, Gov. Joseph Kernan appointed Major General Umbarger 
to lead the Nation's fourth-largest National Guard contingent as the 
Adjutant General of Indiana, a position he was reappointed to by Gov. 
Mitch Daniels on December 1, 2004, and further reappointed by Gov. Mike 
Pence on December 13, 2012.
  During the past 11 years as the Adjutant General, Major General 
Umbarger has led the Indiana Army and Air National Guard, as well as 
the more than 15,800 Indiana Guard, Reserve, and State employees, 
challenging them to embody the National Guard's motto, ``Always Ready, 
Always There.'' He has directed the training and deployment of nearly 
every unit of the Indiana Army and Air National Guard in support of the 
global war on terror and helped establish and oversee the well-
respected J9 Resilience Program to support Guard members and their 
families during predeployment, deployment, and postdeployment. He also 
served as a member of the Secretary of the Army's Reserve Forces Policy 
Committee and the Secretary of Defense's Reserve Forces Policy Board.

[[Page S3055]]

  Major General Umbarger has earned numerous awards and decorations, 
including: the Legion of Merit, Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service 
Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal Army; Achievement 
Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, with two gold hourglass devices; 
Indiana Long Service Medal, and Indiana Distinguished Service Medal, 
Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.
  In addition to his service in the Indiana National Guard, Major 
General Umbarger has given his time and efforts to serving his 
community through many local and national organizations, including the 
Indiana Feed and Grain Association, the board of trustees of Johnson 
Memorial Hospital, the board of trustees of Franklin College, the 
Johnson County Animal Shelter, the Bargersville Masonic Lodge, the 
National Guard Association of the United States, the National Guard 
Association of Indiana, and the Association of the United States Army.
  We thank Major General Umbarger for his service, dedication, and 
commitment to protecting Hoosiers and our Nation. Indiana has a long 
and proud tradition of serving our country, and Major General 
Umbarger's leadership has played a critical role in ensuring that our 
brave men and women have the training and support they need. General 
Umbarger has made the Indiana National Guard a national model and has 
left a strong Indiana National Guard. On behalf of Hoosiers, we wish 
Major General Umbarger and his wife Rowana the best in the years 
ahead.

                          ____________________