[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 207 (Wednesday, December 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8860-S8861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBIN SQUATRITO

  Mrs. FISCHER. Madam President, I rise today to honor a devoted 
American patriot on her retirement from Federal civil service. Mrs. 
Robin Squatrito has served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for 
North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern 
Command in Colorado Springs, CO, for over 15 years. During that time, 
she has provided expert legislative advice to nine NORAD and USNORTHCOM 
commanders, served as the principal liaison between the commands and 
the congressional defense committee staffs, and facilitated a 
tremendous collaborative relationship between NORAD, USNORTHCOM, and 
Congress--including my staff and me--as the commands have stood 
constant watch over the United States and Canadian homelands.
  In fact, Robin was a member of USNORTHCOM from the day the command 
was established in October 2002. At that time, she was serving our 
Nation as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and was hand-selected by the 
first commander of USNORTHCOM, Gen. Ralph Eberhart, to be the Director 
of his Commander's Action Group. USNORTHCOM was established in the 
aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and Colonel Squatrito 
played an instrumental role in ensuring the command was organized and 
ready to safeguard our homeland from further attacks. When she retired 
after 26 years in uniform, it was only a matter of time before she 
answered the call to serve once more.
  From the day Robin returned to NORAD and USNORTHCOM as a civil 
servant, she has been a tireless advocate for our national defense. She 
is

[[Page S8861]]

well known inside and outside the headquarters as a passionate advocate 
for NORAD and USNORTHCOM, as well as for the men and women responsible 
for executing their critical missions. She is also recognized for her 
knowledge, remarkable attention to detail, and dedication, spending 
whatever time is necessary to make certain that every product that 
passes across her desk is as close to perfect as possible. Robin has 
repeatedly demonstrated her passion for doing the right thing and her 
commitment to high standards as she has guided nine NORAD and 
USNORTHCOM commanders through countless posture hearings, briefings, 
CODEL visits, office calls, phone calls, and numerous other engagements 
with Members of Congress and our staffs.
  Robin's colleagues and her family will tell you that she has always 
been one of the first leaders at work in the morning, and can often be 
found at her desk well after standard duty hours. And for Robin, time 
away from the office has never meant she was off duty. She is never far 
from her phone or her email in order to ensure commanders and Members 
of Congress always receive a prompt and professional response to any 
question, request, or concern. That is one of the reasons why Gen. Glen 
VanHerck, the current commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM, has said Robin 
is ``one of the most diligent and dedicated professionals I've had the 
privilege of serving with over my more than 34 years in uniform. 
Robin's devotion to our country, homeland defense, and our commands is 
boundless. She embodies the true meaning of selfless service for a 
noble cause.''
  And it is certainly fitting to offer our Nation's sincere thanks to 
Robin's family for their decades of service and sacrifice. That 
includes her husband, retired Col. Joe Squatrito, who also served our 
Nation with honor as an Air Force officer. It also includes their 
children, Michael and Stacey. As the entire Squatrito family looks 
forward to the coming new year with limitless opportunities and 
adventures ahead of them, Robin and Joe are also preparing to take on 
important new titles and responsibilities as first-time grandparents.
  It is my honor to thank Robin Squatrito for her lifetime of devoted 
service to our Nation. I wish her and her family all the very best in 
her extraordinarily well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________