[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 54 (Monday, March 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING CHIEF PAUL CAIRNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 28, 2022

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the tremendous 
contributions of outgoing Argyle ISD Police Chief Paul Cairney, who has 
served with the school district since October 2014. He was named Police 
Chief in May 2015. Under his capable direction, the stated mission of 
the AISD Police Department to protect and serve Eagle students, staff 
and the community has been fulfilled as Chief Cairney and his staff 
have provided a safe educational environment for students and staff.
  Chief Cairney is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and 
holds masters degrees from Liberty University in Religious Studies and 
from Colorado State University Global in Criminal Justice. In addition, 
he attained a PhD in Leadership from Louisiana Baptist University and 
Theological Seminary.
  After two decades serving in the U.S. Air Force, Chief Cairney 
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his extensive military service 
overseeing security forces at more than ten Air Force bases in both the 
United States and abroad in the United Kingdom, Turkey, Germany, and 
Iraq, he served in multiple leadership positions in law enforcement and 
emergency preparedness.
  His last duty assignment was as Commander/Police Chief of a 400-plus 
police force which included U.S. military members and U.S. Department 
of Defense (DoD) and United Kingdom Ministry of Defense civilians. He 
worked closely with DoD schools to improve classroom safety and was 
instrumental in developing training for active shooter scenarios on DoD 
school campuses.
  Within Argyle ISD, Chief Cairney has developed a robust and proactive 
security program that has garnered positive national attention. The 
AISD Police Department engaged in crucial partnerships with local 
police and fire departments to force multiply the district's ability to 
prepare and respond to emergency hazards, both natural and man-made. To 
prepare staff, they have hosted large active shooter training exercises 
and deployed updated communications technology across all campuses. 
This has afforded the district the capability to identify concerns and 
address potential problem situations as well as alert staff to rapidly 
respond to crisis events and emergencies.
  In addition to his military and law enforcement career, Chief Cairney 
is to be commended for the philanthropic contributions of time, 
talents, and funding as he and his wife, Lynn, established Thor and 
Athena's Promise Sanctuary. Through this effort they have rescued many 
neglected and abused horses and brought them to their ranch to provide 
rehabilitation and a safe refuge. Chief Cairney also honorably served 
as a member of my Service Academy Advisory Board.
  I am pleased to join the students, families, staff and administration 
of Argyle ISD in saluting Chief Cairney's exemplary tenure and public 
service to the school district and community. We wish him all the best 
as he moves to Colorado to take another law enforcement position.

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