[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING WENDY BARON ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2019

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true public 
servant on her retirement. Wendy Baron retires today from the Idaho 
National Laboratory as the Emergency Communications Department manager.
  Her remarkable journey at the lab started in the early 1980's. She 
first held a summer job at Argonne National Laboratory-West while she 
was in college and then returned after earning a degree in 
communications at Idaho State University in the public affairs office.
  She left to work in private consulting in the 90's but found her way 
back to the lab in 2000. During this time, she also began volunteering 
with the Chubbuck Fire Department. I am not sure if it was that first 
EMT call to the Chubbuck Flying J where she delivered a baby in the 
front seat of a minivan, but it was in this job that Wendy discovered a 
passion for firefighting and emergency response. So Wendy turned her 
volunteer passion into her career.
  In 2005 at 41 years old, Wendy became a member of the Idaho National 
Laboratory Fire Department. She trained hard to pass the physical test, 
including dragging a toboggan loaded with rock salt around her 
neighborhood at 4 a.m. Wendy immediately became active in union 
activities and leadership at the INLFD and just two years later, she 
helped lead the effort to reorganize the 75-member department into the 
International Association of Firefighters and served as the new local's 
president. That same year, Wendy was named the 2007 INL Firefighter of 
the year and was elected to serve on the executive board of the 
Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho (PFFI). She was then named PFFI 
Fire Fighter of the Year in 2009.
  In 2013, Wendy was promoted to assistant fire chief for planning and 
logistics. Today, there are seven women in the INLFD, one of them a 
battalion chief. Fire Chief Eric Gosswiller credits Wendy for laying 
the groundwork for them.
  Wendy is quick to credit those around her for her success. But even 
despite her humility, it is clear that Wendy is extraordinarily 
talented, hardworking, and dedicated. These qualities have resulted in 
the great respect and affection that her colleagues share for her.
  I know Wendy looks forward to spending more time with her family in 
retirement, especially her husband Victor. She will also enjoy more 
sailing, backpacking, scuba and participating in competitive swimming 
and running events.
  On behalf of a grateful community, I congratulate Wendy Baron on an 
incredibly successful and admirable career, and I wish you all the best 
in your well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________