[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 201 (Thursday, November 18, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1255-E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL W. MacKAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2021

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Master 
Sergeant Michael W. MacKay who will be retiring today from the United 
States Marine Corps after 20 years of distinguished service. Mike was

[[Page E1256]]

raised in New York City and following the September 11th attacks he, 
like so many patriots, enlisted in the Marine Corps in November of 
2001.
  Mike's operational assignments include Operations Chief and Senior 
Enlisted Leader for the Commander of the Special Operations Command and 
Control Element in Africa. He also deployed to both Iraq and 
Afghanistan on numerous occasions between 2003 and 2017 in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation 
Inherent Resolve. As a Critical Skills Operator, or Marine Raider, Mike 
has been stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC; Camp Pendleton, CA; and 
Washington, D.C. and has traveled to over 30 countries. He served as 
the Chief instructor of an advanced technical operations course at the 
Marine Raider Training Center and is a graduate of the USMC 
Congressional Fellowship program; USMC Combatant Diver Course; USMC 
Amphibious Reconnaissance Course; USMC Scout Sniper Course; U.S. Army 
Airborne Course; U.S. Army Special Forces Military Freefall; and the 
U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.
  Mike graduated Suma Cum Laude from Norwich University's Bachelor of 
Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis program. He earned a 
master's degree in Public Administration and Policy from American 
University and a graduate certificate in Legislative Studies from 
Georgetown University's Government Affairs Institute in Washington, 
D.C. He also completed the Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military 
Education II and earned the Michael A. Monsoor Leadership Award from 
the Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Advisors Course. Mike's 
brave actions on the battlefield earned him a number of awards, 
including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Joint Service Commendation 
Medal (Combat), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army 
Commendation Medal, 3 Combat Action Ribbons, 2 Presidential Unit 
Citations, 7 Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and 6 Marine Corps Good 
Conduct Medals.
  With his robust, boots-on-the-ground experience serving our nation 
around the globe, I am honored now to have Mike as a member of my 
staff. Prior to serving as my national security advisor, Mike was the 
Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of Special 
Operations and Combatting Terrorism and the Appropriations Liaison to 
the Assistant Secretary of Defense from Special Operations and Low 
Intensity Conflict in the Department of Defense, Undersecretary of 
Defense for Policy. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I thank Mike for 
his exemplary service in the United States Marine Corps.

                          ____________________