[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MAJOR DUSTIN MONDLOCH

  Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize MAJ Dustin 
Mondloch, U.S. Army, for his outstanding work on behalf the people of 
Maine and the Nation as a 2022 Department of Defense Legislative Fellow 
serving in my Washington, DC, office. Over the past year, Dustin has 
been integral in shaping my foreign policy and defense priorities. He 
helped secure a number of provisions in the Fiscal Year 2023 National 
Defense Authorization Act--FY23 NDAA--that will make our country 
stronger and safer. Dustin led my staff in orchestrating important 
appropriations for the Department of Defense, Department of State, 
Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy. His contributions--both to office morale 
and to our collective work product--are emblematic of his good 
character, competence, and strong work ethic.
  Throughout his tenure in my office, Dustin demonstrated a level of 
professionalism and hard work I have come to expect--but not take for 
granted--from Department of Defense Legislative Fellows. Indeed, he 
follows a long line of accomplished U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officers 
who have made impactful contributions to my office and to U.S. national 
security policy. He distinguished himself as the first Army officer to 
serve in my office, setting a high bar and providing invaluable advice 
and insights personally to me. Over the course of the year, Dustin 
prepared and advised me on wide ranging and complex matters under 
consideration before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He brought 
his space expertise to assist me in the Strategic Forces Subcommittee 
briefings and deliberations, that resulted in important funding 
authorizations and legislation. Dustin's servant leadership showed in 
his work with constituents and while securing legislation to address 
Active Duty and veteran suicide. His attention to detail became 
apparent as he assisted me in dissecting, literally, thousands of pages 
of the Abbey Gate inspector general investigation. Further, he authored 
sections of report language, including one of my top concerns regarding 
the will to fight analysis of foreign militaries by our national 
security community. In addition, he became my go-to lead for monitoring 
the horrific war in Ukraine, providing clear-headed and thoughtful 
analysis, and liaised with representatives from the White House, State 
Department, and Department of Defense to convey my positions and 
concerns. His candor and honest assessments provided critical insights 
during this fraught time in U.S. history, and our Nation is better 
because of it.
  On behalf of my colleagues and the U.S. Congress, I thank Dustin for 
his dedicated service to my staff, the State of Maine, the U.S. Army, 
and the Nation. Part of what makes the U.S. military the greatest in 
the history of the world is that servicemembers like Dustin dedicate 
their lives to service and sacrifice for their country. Major Mondloch 
does not do it alone, so I also acknowledge the support of his family--
his wife Danielle, his son Cole, and his daughter Lennox. I wish them 
all the best on what I know is a bright future.

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