[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 201 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                  TRIBUTE TO MAJOR ALLEN ``SIG'' BLACK

  Mr. COTTON. Madam President, I would like to take a few moments to 
recognize Maj. Allen ``Sig'' Black who has worked in my Senate office 
this year as a defense fellow. Major Black is a patriot who has served 
our country nobly and made it a safer and better place. It has been a 
pleasure to have him in my office.
  Major Black joined the Air Force in 2011 as a distinguished graduate 
of the ROTC program at Pennsylvania State University. He began flying 
the F-22 fighter aircraft soon after completing the Euro-NATO Joint Jet 
Pilot Training in Texas and has since become a masterful Air Force 
pilot and knowledgeable authority on virtually every detail of the 
Raptor. In total, Major Black served as an operational F-22 pilot for 5 
years, deploying for combat operations in Operation Inherent Resolve 
and executing numerous homeland and Presidential protection missions.
  Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Major Black spent 3 years at 
Edwards Air Force Base in California. There, where he attended the U.S. 
Air Force Pilot Test School and left as a distinguished graduate and 
the Liethen-Tittle Award winner as the top test pilot graduate in class 
19A. While still serving at Edwards, Major Black also distinguished 
himself as F-22 command chief pilot and assistant director of 
operations of the 411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Operations Group.
  In 2021, Major Black led the F-22 Combined Test Force through 26 F-22 
and 20 F-16 developmental test missions and several first-time events. 
Twelve of his missions were supporting elevated risk F-22 envelope 
expansion tests. For one such mission, Major Black planned and led the 
first F-22 high angle of attack test in 17 years while carrying a new 
externally podded capability. His success in executing 12 additional 
missions evaluating new F-22 software led to the fielding of the first 
F-22 Rapid Agile Capability Release operational flight program.
  Major Black is a skilled military leader. He directed the No. 1 DOD 
weapon program, developed new F-22 open software pathways, and has 
helped lead numerous working groups. According to Air Force Materiel 
Command, ``The distinctive accomplishments of Major Black reflect great 
credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.'' For these 
achievements, Major Black was awarded the Lieutenant General Bobby Bond 
Memorial Aviator Award, which is the award for the best test pilot of 
the year in the entire Air Force.
  I could not have been assigned a more talented pilot to join my 
office in January 2023, representing the Air Force in Congress as a 
Defense Fellow.
  During his time in my office, he staffed over 25 high-level 
engagements and at least 10 hearings, along with helping draft dozens 
of pieces of legislation to strengthen our Nation's defense. He has 
also provided meticulous and incisive research that has guided my 
office on important public policy questions. His colleagues have been 
consistently grateful for his attention to detail, willingness to 
diligently analyze problems, and ability to translate complex military 
concepts into digestible language. His passion and dedication to making 
this great Nation safer was evident each and every day working in the 
Senate.
  Finally, I cannot honor Major Black without also thanking his family: 
his wife Kelsey, his daughter Sloane, and his son Nicholas. I am 
grateful to his family for sharing him with my team.
  Major Black has had a remarkable career and he has a promising future 
ahead. He is exactly the kind of man and leader that our military 
needs. For these reasons and many more, I was honored to have Major 
Black in my office this year.
  Sig, thank you for your service to Arkansas and to the United States 
of America.

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