[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  TRIBUTE TO GENERAL RAYMOND A. THOMAS

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, today I wish to honor my friend, GEN 
Raymond A. Thomas III, commander of the U.S. Special Operations 
Command, for his dedication to military service in the U.S. Army. 
General Thomas will retire from active military duty on March 29, 2019, 
after serving 39 years defending our national security.
  Born in Philadelphia, PA, General Thomas graduated from the U.S. 
Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as an infantry 
second lieutenant in 1980. Throughout his career, General Thomas has 
grown as a well-respected leader and a vital asset to the special 
operations community.
  Prior to assuming command of U.S. Special Operations Command, General 
Thomas served as commander, Joint Special Operations Command--JSOC--
Fort Bragg, NC. His other general officer assignments include Associate 
Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency; 
commanding general, NATO Special Operations Component Command--
Afghanistan; deputy commanding general, JSOC; Deputy Director for 
Special Operations, the Joint Staff in the Pentagon; assistant division 
commander, 1st Armor Division in Iraq; and assistant commanding 
general, JSOC.
  Prior to his promotion to brigadier general, General Thomas served as 
the JSOC Chief of Staff and Director of Operations. He also faithfully 
served in key joint and special operations assignments all around the 
globe to include commander, Joint Task Force--Bravo, Soto Cano, 
Honduras; commander, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Savannah, GA; 
and commander, B Squadron, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment--
Delta, Fort Bragg, NC.
  I ask my colleagues to join me as I proudly recognize the remarkable 
military career of GEN Raymond A. Thomas III. I wish General Thomas, 
his loving wife, Barbara, and their extended family the very best as 
they embark on the next chapter of their journey together.

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