[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6914-H6915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
                     HONORING GENERAL ROBERT HINSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to retired 
Lieutenant General Robert C. Hinson, U.S. Air Force, the founding 
executive director of the National Strategic Research Institute at the 
University of Nebraska, who recently announced his retirement at the 
end of this year.
  General Hinson retires after more than a half century of highly 
distinguished service supporting the missions of the Department of 
Defense, commercial industry, and the University of Nebraska.
  General Robert Hinson's leadership and dedication to the principles 
of freedom have been indispensable for America's national security 
interest. He began his career by enlisting in the United States Air 
Force. After spending 1 year as an administrative specialist, he 
received a commission from Officer Training School in 1971.
  General Hinson retired after 33 years of exemplary Active-Duty 
military service. Over the course of his career, he distinguished 
himself as an outstanding military leader commanding

[[Page H6915]]

many units, including the 529th Bomb Squadron, the 99th Operations and 
Maintenance Group, the 99th Tactics and Training Wing, the 28th Bomb 
Wing, the 45th Space Wing, and the 14th Air Force.
  General Hinson later rose to positions of great responsibility, 
serving as the vice commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson 
Air Force Base in Colorado, and then later as a deputy commander of the 
United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
  General Hinson is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, 
primarily flying in bomber aircraft, to include the B-52, FB-111, and 
the B-1.
  He received many prestigious awards and decorations during a long, 
selfless military career that included 25 moves for his family.
  General Hinson continued to support the national security of the 
United States upon his retirement from the Air Force, serving 9 years 
as the vice president of government programs and corporate lead 
executive at Northrop Grumman.
  Continuing to answer the call of his country, General Hinson then 
became the founding executive director for the National Strategic 
Research Institute at the University of Nebraska. With vision, 
tenacity, and leadership, he created the great team that established 
this Department of Defense, University Affiliated Research Center, 
known as UARC, at the University of Nebraska. Sponsored by U.S. 
Strategic Command, the National Strategic Research Institute became the 
first UARC supporting a combatant command.
  NSRI provides scientific-based solutions across the threat spectrum 
and across multiple domains. With an intense mission focus, General 
Hinson has been the driving force, creating a trusted research 
institution which, today, is recognized globally for deepening U.S. 
strategic and operational understanding of 21st century national 
security challenges.
  General Hinson led a team of 75 professionals, working from offices 
and laboratories across the University of Nebraska's campuses and near 
customers in the National Capital and Space Coast regions. During his 
tenure, NSRI has collaborated with more than 350 Nebraska University 
researchers and students, serving 44 customers across DOD and the 
Federal Government, while executing over $300 million in Federal 
research funding.
  In addition to his prolific and military and civilian careers, 
General Hinson continued contributing to his community, serving on the 
board of directors for several organizations, to include the STRATCOM 
Consultation Committee, the STRATCOM Strategic Advisory Group's Bomber 
Task Force Panel, the Strategic Air Command, and the Air and Space 
Museum. He also served on the Offutt Air Force Base Advisory Council 
and The Peter Kiewit Institute Board of Policy Advisors.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank General Hinson for being a mentor 
of mine when I commanded the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base back in 
2011 and 2012.
  Mr. Speaker, this Nation owes a debt of gratitude to this outstanding 
warrior who firmly believes in service before self and excellence in 
all he did. I thank General Hinson for his nearly 50 years of 
outstanding public service and wish him and his family all the best as 
he begins the next chapter of his life.

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