[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S631-S632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ROBERT DeSOUSA

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the service of COL 
Robert DeSousa upon his retirement from the Army on February 29, 2020. 
For over 26 years, Colonel DeSousa has served with distinction and 
dedication in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Pennsylvania National 
Guard. Many Pennsylvanians may know Colonel DeSousa in his civilian 
capacity as the widely respected State director for my offices in the 
Commonwealth.
  A native of New Jersey but an adopted son of Pennsylvania, Colonel 
DeSousa holds a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, a law 
degree from the Dickinson School of Law, and a master's degree from the 
U.S. Army War College. He began his military career as a judge advocate 
with the U.S. Army Reserve in 1993 and quickly established himself as 
an outstanding defense lawyer and soldier. Following the September 11 
terror attacks, Colonel DeSousa aided in the mobilization of our troops 
and then deployed to Iraq in 2007. While deployed, he simultaneously 
held three distinct positions for the Pennsylvania National Guard, the 
U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
  In 2008, Colonel DeSousa returned to serve in the 28th Infantry 
Division Headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard. The following 
year, he was tasked as the first ever regional defense counsel in what 
would become the Army's first fully integrated trial defense service 
for Reserve, Active Duty, and National Guard soldiers. As a result of 
Colonel DeSousa's leadership in this role, thousands of Army soldiers 
in nine different States gained greater access to legal defense 
services. He was subsequently appointed as the State judge advocate for 
the Pennsylvania National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in 2013. In 
this position, from which he will retire this February, Colonel DeSousa 
advised the Pennsylvania National Guard's adjutant general and his 
command staff on legal and ethical matters while supervising nearly 50 
judge advocates.
  Colonel DeSousa has built an exemplary career on service and 
leadership. His selflessness and competency, undoubtedly aided by his 
positive can-do attitude and infectious smile, have earned him numerous 
honors in the U.S. Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard. These 
honors include a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army 
Commendation Medal, and over a dozen other commendations. His 
dedication to public service is evinced by his civilian career, too, 
having previously been a Federal law clerk, an assistant U.S. attorney, 
the chief counsel for Pennsylvania's Department of State, and the 
inspector general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  Thankfully, Colonel DeSousa's retirement is not the end of his 
service to Pennsylvanians. He will continue in his current role as 
State director for my Senate office, where he oversees the daily 
operations of my seven State-based offices. In this role, Colonel 
DeSousa is famous for his bits of wisdom he passes down. In particular, 
he reminds his colleagues often that ``an email sent or a phone call 
made does not mean mission accomplished.'' Colonel DeSousa meets this 
mission every day, as he can generally be found out on the road, 
crisscrossing our great Commonwealth to meet with constituents.
  Colonel DeSousa, who is known to appreciate a good cigar, the 
occasional whiskey, and, unrelatedly, sporting dapper bow-ties, is a 
true friend to Pennsylvanians anywhere. I offer Colonel DeSousa my 
heartfelt congratulations on his military retirement and

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am grateful for his counsel, his continued service to the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, and his friendship.

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