[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          TRIBUTE TO GENERAL CARTER F. HAM, U.S. ARMY, RETIRED

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Mr. Inhofe, as the 
chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the 
cochairs of the Senate Army Caucus, it is our honor to pay tribute to a 
great leader and exceptional advocate for the U.S. Army, GEN Carter F. 
Ham, U.S. Army, Retired, as he retires from his current position as the 
president and chief executive officer of the Association of the United 
States Army, AUSA. General Ham exemplifies a lifetime of service.
  Carter enlisted as a private and ultimately joined only a small group 
of soldiers in the history of the Army by earning the rank of Four-Star 
general, leading at every level in the Army, from platoon to geographic 
combatant command, along the way. His Army career began as an enlisted 
infantry soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division and culminated as the 
Commander of United States Africa Command. His service took him to 
Italy, Germany, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Macedonia, Qatar, Iraq, and over 
40 African countries, and his commands included the 1st Infantry 
Division, the legendary ``Big Red One,'' and U.S. Army Europe. As the 
second commander of United States Africa Command, he led all U.S. 
military activities on the African continent ranging from combat 
operations in Libya to hostage rescue operations in Somalia, as well as 
training and security assistance activities across 54 complex and 
diverse African nations. His leadership was compassionate and inclusive 
and left the Army better from his service.
  General Ham retired from the Army in June of 2013 after nearly 38 
years, but his service continued. In the years after retirement from 
Active Duty, he served as the chairman of the National Commission on 
the Future of the Army, an eight-member panel tasked by Congress with 
making recommendations on the size, force structure, and capabilities 
of the Total Army. Since 2016, he has served admirably as the president 
and CEO of AUSA, carrying out its mission to support soldiers, their 
families, and Army civilians; provide a voice for the Army; and honor 
those who have served.
  Established to educate, inform, and connect, General Ham guided AUSA 
through a period of unprecedented growth of membership, creating an 
environment for industry and international partners to build their 
relationships with the U.S. Army. With ingenuity and perseverance while 
navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, he kept the professional and 
education-centered association operating smoothly without decreasing 
any staffing, all while finding new opportunities and formats to 
support the Army. General Ham provided steady leadership in his 
advocacy with Congress supporting the Army--Regular, Guard, and 
Reserve--as well as Army families, civilians, retirees, and veterans. 
He embraced the Army's ``People First'' mission while advocating for 
readiness and modernization with a balanced perspective; he ardently 
supported the Army while respecting and working with the other military 
services. Through his vision for the future and commitment to honor all 
who served in the past, General Ham and AUSA enabled the Army, its 
soldiers and veterans, and the American people, to realize a National 
Museum of the U.S. Army. He has served the United States, the Army, and 
the Association of the United States Army with great distinction and 
exceptional leadership, wisdom, and humility.
  On behalf of Congress and the United States of America, we thank 
General Ham, his wife Christi, and their entire family for their 
commitment, sacrifice, and contributions to this great Nation. We join 
our colleagues in wishing him the long and joyful retirement he so 
richly deserves.

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