[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E693-E694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO ROBERT R. HOOD ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR 
                          LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2020

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, on behalf of myself and Mr. 
Thornberry, as the chair and ranking member of the House Armed Services 
Committee, it is our honor to pay tribute to an accomplished leader and 
senior executive of the Department of Defense, Mr. Robert R. Hood.
  Mr. Hood has served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs from August 2017 to July 2020. As he prepares to 
leave this position, we commend him for his outstanding leadership, 
advice and sound professional judgement on numerous critical issues of 
enduring importance to the Department of Defense, Congress, and this 
Nation.
  Robert Hood has served our Nation for more than 18 years serving in 
various capacities within the Federal Government. His service to our 
nation includes roles as a Professional Staff Member for the House 
Committee on Science, Senior Legislative Assistant, Senior Policy 
Advisor, and Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
for Policy. Mr. Hood also served five years as the Director of 
Congressional Affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration, 
a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy.
  Mr. Hood previously served in the White House as a Special Assistant 
to President George W. Bush in the Office of Legislative Affairs, 
overseeing coordination with the Senate, including the Armed Services, 
Homeland Security, Foreign Relations, and Intelligence Committees. 
Before working on the White

[[Page E694]]

House staff, Mr. Hood served at the Pentagon as the Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs where he was 
responsible for promoting the policies, strategies, and budget of the 
Department of Defense to the United States Congress. Mr. Hood also 
served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) for 
Budget and Appropriations Affairs, working closely with the 
Appropriations Committees of the Congress.
  For the past three years as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs, Mr. Hood deftly managed and guided the 
Department's congressional relations, ensuring the preparation of key 
senior leaders for Senate confirmations, Congressional hearings and 
briefings, while simultaneously developing and leading a highly skilled 
and focused legislative affairs team. His leadership, knowledge, and 
personal efforts greatly contributed to one of the most successful 
legislative years in DoD history, culminating with the establishment of 
the U.S. Space Force, signed into law on December 20, 2019 as part of 
the FY 2020 NDAA.
  Mr. Hood provided significant contributions and leadership during the 
development and execution of the Secretary of Defense (SD)'s 
Congressional Engagement Strategy, ensuring an integrated legislative 
program directly aligned with the National Defense Strategy. This 
comprehensive plan supported the department's priorities, aligned 
tangible legislative objectives to the congressional calendar, and 
guided the execution of over 4,000 congressional engagements within the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, and oversight and alignment of over 
10,000 congressional engagements across the Department during his 
three-year tenure. The strategic execution of these engagements 
directly led to the attainment of DoD legislative priorities in the 
Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 National Defense Authorization 
and Appropriations Acts (NDAAs).
  On behalf of the House, we thank Robert R. Hood, his wife Jennifer, 
and children Evan, Caroline, Megan, Emma for their contributions and 
dedication to this great Nation. We join our colleagues in wishing him 
future success as he leaves the Department of Defense.

                          ____________________