[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 126 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL PETE McALEER

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, as a member of the Senate Marine 
Corps Caucus, I rise to pay tribute to Lt. Col. Pete McAleer, who has 
selflessly served our great country as a U.S. marine. Lieutenant 
Colonel McAleer will retire on July 31, 2018, after a successful 24-
year military career as an infantry officer.
  Lieutenant Colonel McAleer's service was inspired by the example set 
by his family. His grandfathers both served in WWII, and his father, 
retired Marine Col. Rob McAleer, was a 30-year Marine infantry officer 
who served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. As a military child, Lieutenant 
Colonel McAleer learned firsthand what it meant to serve. Like most 
military children, he endured numerous relocations, which included 
Japan, Norway, and England, while experiencing the true meaning of 
service and sacrifice. These challenges developed his personal 
resilience and an undeniable sense of patriotism.
  It was his experiences growing up that solidified his desire to serve 
in the Marine Corps. Lieutenant Colonel McAleer was commissioned in 
1994 upon graduating from the University of Notre Dame and was then 
assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th executive officer for two 
WESTPAC and CENTCOM area deployments. In each of his following 
assignments, he not only excelled, but continued to pursue personal and 
professional development, earning masters degrees from both the U.S. 
Naval War College and the U.S. Army War College.
  Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel McAleer served honorably in 
numerous assignments that took him to seven States, the Nation's 
Capital, and overseas, where he served in five combat deployments 
including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  During his career, Lieutenant Colonel McAleer demonstrated what it 
means to be a leader. A highly decorated marine, he earned several 
service awards, including the Bronze Star, for his heroic service.
  As a testament to Lieutenant Colonel McAleer's exemplary service, he 
was selected to serve as the commandant of the Marine Corps' Senior 
Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
  He was also chosen to represent the U.S. Marine Corps as a military 
legislative fellow for Senator Judd Gregg R-NH. Following his 
successful year on Capitol Hill, he served as the deputy director for 
the Marine Senate Liaison Office.
  As his final assignment in uniform, Lieutenant Colonel McAleer served 
as a strategic policy adviser to the Chief of Naval Operations.
  Lieutenant Colonel McAleer faithfully served his country. He was 
motivated to join the Marines because of the example set by his father 
and the challenge of earning the title of marine. He was encouraged to 
continue his service because of the mission and the men and women he 
served alongside.
  Lieutenant Colonel McAleer, congratulations on your successful career 
and well-deserved retirement. I join my colleagues in Congress and all 
Americans as we express our appreciation for your service, acknowledge 
your many accomplishments, and wish the very best for you, your wife, 
Laura, and your daughter Paige in the future.

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