[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     HONORING MRS. MILDRED MAE DUKE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 2021

  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Mildred Mae 
Duke for more than 35 years of dedicated service as a federal employee.
  Mrs. Duke is the third child of seven. She was born and raised in 
Biloxi, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Mr. Summer Isaac Duke, 
reside today. They have one son, Jon Maxwell ``Max'' Duke.
  Mrs. Duke attended St. Michael's Catholic School from grades 1 
through 6, and later attended Biloxi High School, where she graduated 
in 1974. Mrs. Duke's father, Mr. John Wallace Toche, served in the 
United States Army during the Korean War. As the daughter of a Korean 
War veteran, Mrs. Duke has always held a deep appreciation for our 
military.
  Mrs. Duke's federal civil service began as an employee at the Pearl 
Harbor Navy Base in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1985 to 1986. Her first 
position was the Administration Assistant for the Officer-in-Charge 
Industrial Hygienist Office. Mrs. Duke's drive and determination 
quickly became apparent. She was promoted in November 1986 to 
Administrative Assistant at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, at the 15th 
Supply Squadron until May 1993.
  After leaving Pearl Harbor, she traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 
where she worked as Executive Assistant to the Director of Defense 
Intelligence Agency at the American Embassy from August 1994 until 
August 1996.
  After returning from overseas to her hometown, she was hired as the 
secretary to the Military Personnel Flight Commander at Keesler Air 
Force Base from July 2002 until January 2007. Since 2013, she has 
served as Executive Assistant/Protocol Manager to the Commanding 
Officer at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, 
Mississippi.
  Throughout Mrs. Duke's career, she has received 2 Civilian of the 
Year Awards, 2 Civilian of the Quarter Awards, 21 Exceptional 
Performance Awards, 2 Special Act Awards and a Civilian Meritorious 
Service Award. Mrs. Duke will be retiring this year, after over 35 
years of dedication to the state of Mississippi and our great Nation. 
On behalf of the 4th Congressional District, we wish her the best.

                          ____________________