[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN ``ODIE'' SLOCUM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Mitchell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding 
member of our community and our military on his retirement. For more 
than 35 years, Brigadier General John ``Odie'' Slocum served our 
country, most recently as the commander of the 127th Wing at Selfridge 
Air National Guard Base in Michigan's 10th District, a post he held 
from November 2014 until his retirement this past weekend.
  General Slocum's career of more than 35 years and 4,100 flight hours 
began in 1984 when he received his Air Force commission through East 
Carolina University's ROTC program. After receiving his wings, Odie 
served his 8 years of Active Duty as an F-4 Phantom and F-16 pilot and 
then served as an instructor at bases in both Georgia and Arizona.
  In 1992 he joined the Arizona Air National Guard where he served in a 
variety of Operations Group and headquarters-staff positions, many 
related to F-16 flight training, before taking over as Arizona Air 
National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing's chief of safety and squadron 
commander. During his tenure in Arizona, he created a new Air National 
Guard maintenance training curriculum, worked to increase mental health 
and suicide prevention resources in the Air National Guard, initiated a 
DOD-wide midair collision avoidance program, and more. Because of these 
actions, in 2013, Odie was inducted into the Air Force Safety Hall of 
Fame.
  After 1 year as the Inspector General of the Air National Guard based 
at Joint Base Andrews, in 2014 Slocum was promoted to brigadier general 
and assumed command of the 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard 
Base, in my home district. It is home to 1,700 airmen operating both 
the A-10 Warthog and KC-135 Stratotanker, as well as host to more than 
45 tenant organizations from all branches of the military and numerous 
DHS organizations. Nearly 4,500 Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, and 
civilian personnel call Selfridge Air National Guard Base home.
  Selfridge is unique, with diverse needs due to its many missions, and 
General Slocum has been an exceptional leader of Selfridge and our 
community. Under Slocum's leadership, the 127th Wing earned the Spaatz 
Trophy, presented to the top flying wing in the Air National Guard; 
earned an Air Force Meritorious Unit Award; and celebrated milestone 
anniversaries of the base, 100 years, and the 127th Wing's two flying 
units, the 107th Fighter Squadron, 100 years, and the 171st Air 
Refueling Squadron. Further, last year, the 127th Wing was named Macomb 
County Economic Development Partner of the Year, and Slocum was 
inducted into the Macomb County Hall of Fame.
  I have had the honor to work with General Slocum since before I 
joined Congress, and I have greatly appreciated our professional 
relationship, as well as the personal friendship that has grown the 
last 5 years. In our nearly weekly phone calls, Odie has worked with me 
to ensure I know what is going on at the base, I am aware of the base's 
needs, and we work together to address the needs of the men and women 
who serve in Selfridge.
  It is extremely clear Odie cares deeply about Selfridge, the men and 
women he commands, Michigan, and our Nation. We are all extremely 
grateful for his decades of dedication to our Nation.
  While I will miss having him commanding Selfridge, I know General 
Slocum will continue to remain heavily involved in our community to 
make our place a great place to live. On behalf of our community and 
our Nation, I wish to extend him all the best in retirement, and I 
thank him for his many years of exemplary service.

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