[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6648-S6649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL WALTER ZINK

 Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise to recognize one of my 
Nebraska constituents, MG Walter Zink. For the last 45 years of Major 
General Zink's professional career, he has served our country, its 
military, and the great State of Nebraska. His work has spanned many 
areas of public service, and I wish to recognize Major General Zink and 
his family as he moves on to the next stage of retirement.
  As a young man from Sterling, NE, Major General Zink felt the call to 
public service early. He enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard 
in 1970 after completing his undergraduate course work at Nebraska 
Wesleyan University. Major General Zink received his commission as an 
infantry officer through the Nebraska Military Academy in June of 1972. 
He spent 4 years drilling as a young officer in the 134th Infantry 
Battalion while he completed his law degree at the University of 
Nebraska College of Law. Major General Zink went on to serve as a staff 
judge advocate at the brigade and State headquarters level before being 
selected as the Nebraska assistant adjutant general for the Army. Major 
General Zink retired in 2008 after becoming commander of the U.S. Army 
North's Operational Command Post One.
  Working in the legal community as an attorney, Major General Zink 
specialized in worker's compensation practices and tort law, while also 
donning the uniform on weekends to assist soldiers and the Nebraska 
National Guard with legal issues.
  After he left the service, Zink continued to work for the State of 
Nebraska. Serving as State chair of the Nebraska Committee for Employer 
Support of the Guard and Reserve for over 5 years, Major General Zink 
has been an advocate for Nebraska servicemembers and their employers. 
His leadership helped to strengthen employer knowledge regarding the 
value of military experience in the workplace. Under Zink's watch, 11 
Nebraska employers finished in the top 30 finalists for the Secretary 
of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Burt County Sherriff's 
Office and Electrical Contractors, Inc., also took home the Defense 
Department's highest honor for employers in support of National Guard 
and Reserve employees.
  In 2009, Major General Zink ran for office and won a position with 
the Airport Authority. Throughout his 6-year term, he worked to 
strengthen economic prosperity for the community of Lincoln. 
Additionally, Major General Zink served the governor of Nebraska and 
the State's National Guard by

[[Page S6649]]

working as a member of the adjutant general selection committee. Major 
General Zink has also agreed to sit on my Service Academy Selection 
Board, where he recommended Nebraska students for a congressional 
nomination to our Nation's service academies.
  I would like to thank Walt, Carol, and the Zink family for their many 
years of public service. Please join me in recognizing this Nebraskan 
as he takes this next step in his journey.

                          ____________________