[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF CMSGT JOSEPH R. McARTHUR, 911TH AIRLIFT 
                          WING, U.S. AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KEITH J. ROTHFUS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Citizen Airman 
Chief Master Joseph R. McArthur upon his retirement after more than 37 
years of honorable service in the United States Air Force and United 
States Air Force Reserve.
  Chief McArthur was born in Duluth, Minnesota and graduated from 
Spring Lake Park Senior High School in 1980. He entered the U.S. Air 
Force in November of that year. His first assignment was to the 9th 
Bombardment Squadron at the former Carswell AFB, Texas. After promotion 
to the rank of Senior Airman below-the-zone on 1 June 1983, he departed 
for Verona, Italy where he was assigned to NATO's Joint Signal Support 
Group. He was later reassigned to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at 
Royal Air Force Lakenheath where he was awarded the Air Force 
Commendation Medal for Heroism.
  Chief McArthur moved to Ramstein Air Base, Germany in July 1986 after 
he was designated the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of 
Personnel for the AF European Broadcasting Squadron. In 1988, Chief 
McArthur completed the Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School as a 
Distinguished Graduate. Two years later, Chief McArthur was reassigned 
to the 40th Mission Support Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy as the NCOIC 
of Personnel Readiness where he supported Operations DESERT SHIELD/
STORM and PROVIDE COMFORT.
  In 1992, he joined the 98th Air Refueling Group as the Chief of 
Personnel of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana with the Air Force 
Reserve. In August 1996, then-TSgt McArthur was reassigned to the 911th 
Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station 
where he served in various positions. The following year, Chief 
McArthur was promoted to Master Sergeant and to Senior Master Sergeant 
in 1999.
  After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Chief McArthur 
supported Operation NOBLE EAGLE. He led a contingent of security forces 
personnel to the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility with the 321st 
Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Masirah Air Base, Oman.
  In 2005, he became the Air Transportation Manager within the Aerial 
Port career field. From 2006-2007, he was deployed to the 489th Aerial 
Port Squadron, Andrews AFB, Maryland. During that deployment, Chief 
McArthur completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from 
American Military University.
  He returned to the 911th Airlift Wing in 2007, being promoted to 
Chief Master Sergeant. Chief McArthur forged partnerships with local 
educational institutions to allow college-level courses to be taught at 
the 911th Airlift Wing. His vision came to fruition in January 2014 
when the 911th Airlift Wing partnered with Robert Morris University to 
begin teaching General Education courses. Since this partnership 
started, the 911th Airlift Wing has presented over 150 Community 
College of the Air Force Associate degrees.
  In 2008, he deployed to the 455th Expeditionary Airlift Wing at 
Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Following his deployment, Chief McArthur 
was selected to become the ``defacto'' Group Superintendent for the 
911th Mission Support Group. Three years later, he deployed as the 
Superintendent of the Air Mobility Division at the Combined Air 
Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
  In 2014, he became the Air Transportation Functional Manager 
(Forward), Headquarters, Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, 
Qatar. He deployed in 2017 and 2018 with the 379th Expeditionary Force 
Support Squadron as the Superintendent for Manpower and Personnel 
Flight.
  In 2016, he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Organizational 
Leadership from Robert Morris University.
  Chief McArthur is a highly decorated individual who has been awarded 
8 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Air Force Commendation Medals, and 2 
Air Force Achievement Medals.
  I commend Chief Master Sergeant Joseph R. McArthur for his commitment 
and sacrifices he has made for our country. On this occasion of his 
retirement from the U.S. Air Force, I thank him for his honorable 
service. The United States of America has benefited greatly from Chief 
McArthur's visionary leadership, planning, and foresight. We wish him 
and his wife, Barbara, the very best.

                          ____________________