[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6801-S6802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN F. LEHMAN

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a true American 
patriot, a fellow naval aviator, and a close personal friend, former 
Secretary of Navy, the Honorable John F. Lehman.
  Secretary Lehman served his country for over 30 years both in uniform 
in the United States Navy and as Secretary of the Navy during the 
Reagan Administration, from 1981-1987. His leadership and dedication to 
our country and to the Navy set a high mark unsurpassed to this day. It 
was Secretary Lehman who championed a ``600-ship'' Navy after the 
devastating post-Vietnam war cutbacks. He knew how important this naval 
investment was to rebuilding our global military and strategic power. 
Together with President Reagan, he offered the vision of strength that 
would ultimately bring an end to the Soviet Union. His tenure stands as 
a lesson of history that peace comes through strength and commitment, 
not weakness and retreat.
  Secretary Lehman's impact on the country and our national security 
has not ended with the conclusion of his tour in the Pentagon. He 
continues to offer essential and trusted advice to decision makers 
throughout our national leadership. I am proud to call Secretary Lehman 
my friend, and I am honored to recognize him today. For these and many 
other reasons, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record 
the citation in honor of Secretary Lehman's recently awarded National 
Defense Industrial Association Gold Medal.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

Gold Medal For Distinguished Service Is Presented to The Honorable John 
                               F. Lehman

       For a lifetime of extraordinary leadership and dedication 
     to a strong national security of the United States of 
     America, the Honorable John F. Lehman is hereby recognized 
     for his superb service to our country, both in and out of 
     uniform, and in both the United States Air Force and the 
     United States Navy, serving with great distinction for over 
     three decades in a succession of demanding leadership 
     positions of ever-increasing authority and responsibility, 
     including serving as the 65th Secretary of the Navy for six 
     years, beginning at the age of 38. Never one to hold himself 
     apart from those he leads, Secretary Lehman continued to 
     concurrently serve as a Naval Aviator while serving

[[Page S6802]]

     as Secretary of the Navy. Throughout his illustrious career, 
     Secretary Lehman has excelled in numerous top level positions 
     supporting both the national security and foreign policy of 
     the United States, including as a staff member to Dr. Henry 
     Kissinger on the National Security Council, as a delegate to 
     the Force Reductions Negotiations in Vienna, as Deputy 
     Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and 
     as a member of the 9/11 Commission. A lasting hallmark of 
     Secretary Lehman's commitment to national security was his 
     out-front leadership for the ``600-ship Navy.'' This plan was 
     integral to President Reagan's goal of winning the Cold War 
     against the Soviet Union and to rebuilding the Navy's fleet 
     of ships following post-Vietnam War cutbacks. Secretary 
     Lehman also developed a critical strategic concept known as 
     the ``Lehman Doctrine.'' His plan, which called for a 
     military response to any Russian invasion in Europe by 
     invading the Soviet Far East, was an innovative strategic 
     concept essential to our conventional deterrence of the 
     Soviet Union. Even after so many accomplishments in public 
     service, Secretary Lehman has continued to offer his advice 
     and support to national security leaders to this day. In 
     addition to his national security credentials, Secretary 
     Lehman holds a B.S. degree from St. Joseph's University, B.A. 
     and M.A. degrees from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. from 
     the University of Pennsylvania. He has enjoyed great success 
     in business as a founding partner and Chairman of J.F. Lehman 
     & Company, as the president of an aerospace consulting firm, 
     and he is currently a director on a variety of corporate 
     boards. He has authored numerous books, including `On Seas of 
     Glory', `Command of the Seas', and `Making War', and 
     continues to write for the National Review on American 
     Seapower for the 21st Century. Secretary Lehman serves as a 
     member of a number of influential American think tanks to 
     include serving as the Chair of Foreign Policy Research 
     Institute's National Security Program. His visionary 
     leadership, wise counsel and unparalleled service over the 
     last 40 years in government and business have contributed 
     immeasurably to sustaining a strong and successful U.S. 
     national security posture. Secretary Lehman's extraordinary 
     devotion to duty, clarity of purpose, and record of 
     remarkable achievements are in keeping with the highest 
     traditions of public and private service and reflect great 
     credit upon him, the men and women in uniform, and the United 
     States of America.
       Given this day September 18, 2015 by:
     Arnold L. Punaro,
       Major General, USMC (RET), Chairman of the Board.
     Craig R. McKinley,
       General, USAF (RET), President & CEO.

                          ____________________