[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING COLONEL KEVIN KENNEDY

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Colonel Kevin 
Kennedy, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, 
near Rapid City, SD. Colonel Kennedy has been the commander at 
Ellsworth for the past 2 years, and has served in his position 
admirably.
  Colonel Kennedy began his career at the Air Force Academy in 
Colorado. He is a B-1 pilot who went on to serve at Ellsworth on 
multiple occasions, including as deputy commander of the 28th 
Operations Group as recently as 2010. During his career he also served 
as the vice commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in South West 
Asia and as the director of the Air Force Strategic Study Group at the 
Pentagon here in DC.
  When he came back to Ellsworth 2 years ago as base commander, my 
office was working with the Air Force on a 9-year project to expand the 
Powder River Training Complex, which is the primary training airspace 
for the B-1 bombers based at Ellsworth, as well as the B-52 bombers 
based in Minot Air Force Base, ND. When Colonel Kennedy arrived at 
Ellsworth as base commander, he made the completion of the Powder River 
Training Complex one of his top priorities, and he assured me that this 
airspace expansion would be completed under his watch. This was not a 
pledge he took lightly. Be it emphasizing the need for this airspace 
within the Air Force hierarchy or driving out to Montana to meet with 
Native American tribal leaders, Colonel Kennedy was willing to go the 
extra mile to bring this airspace home.
  As a result of his efforts, in January of this year the Air Force 
signed the Record of Decision for the Powder River Training Complex 
expansion, which was approved by the FAA a few months later. Once this 
airspace is charted and operational, Ellsworth Air Force Base will save 
up to $23 million a year by being able to train closer to home. In 
addition, other aircraft from around the Nation can come to South 
Dakota to utilize this training space, improving overall readiness. The 
expanded Powder River Training Complex is a national treasure.
  I want to thank Colonel Kennedy for his commitment to this project 
and for his service to our Nation. He really is a shining example of 
the dedication and leadership that makes America's Air Force the 
greatest in the world.

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