[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S7026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING BRIGADIER GENERAL ROSANNE BAILEY

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the memory 
of Brig. Gen. Rosanne Bailey, U.S. Air Force, Retired. General Bailey, 
who was known simply as ``Ro,'' passed away on November 2, 2016.
  Ro began her Air Force career through the ROTC program at Purdue 
University, where she earned a BS in industrial management from the 
Krannert School of Management. In 2005, she received the Krannert 
School's ``Distinguished Alumni Award.''
  As an Air Force officer, Ro held significant positions in acquisition 
and logistics before assuming command level responsibilities. Before 
retiring, Ro served as commander of the 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein 
AFB in Germany and as commander of the Cheyenne Mountain Operations 
Center in Colorado Springs.
  One of the stops along Ro's distinguished Air Force career was 
Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, AK, where Ro served as commander 
of the 354th Logistics Group from 1996-1998. Following her retirement 
from the Air Force, Ro returned to interior Alaska to accept a series 
of executive positions at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
  In 2006, she was named vice chancellor for administrative services. 
Two years later, she became involved in the university's efforts to 
develop a niche in unmanned aerial systems. Her initial position was 
special projects manager for unmanned aircraft and rocket launch 
support in 2008.
  Ro's success in that position led the University of Alaska Board of 
Regents to create the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
Integration in 2012. Ro was named deputy director of the center. She 
was instrumental in writing the proposal that created the Pan-Pacific 
UAS Test Range Complex, which is one of only seven FAA-approved 
unmanned aircraft system test sites in the Nation. Leading the center 
during the difficult early years, she left her mark on the unmanned 
aircraft industry.
  She was also active in the interior Alaska community as a 
commissioner of the Steese Fire District and an elder of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Fairbanks.
  Ro's passing is a great loss to her many friends in the UAS world, at 
the University of Alaska, and in the broader interior Alaska community. 
I was privileged to know Ro and am grateful for that opportunity.
  Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate the life of Ro Bailey 
today in the U.S. Senate.

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