[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO MAJOR NICK OLTMAN

  Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Maj. Nick Oltman, 
U.S. Marine Corps, for his outstanding work on behalf of the people of 
Maine and the Nation as a 2023 Department of Defense legislative fellow 
serving in my Washington, DC, office. Over the past year, Nick has been 
integral in shaping my foreign policy and defense priorities. He helped 
secure several provisions in the fiscal year 2024 National Defense 
Authorization Act--FY24 NDAA--that will make our country stronger and 
safer. Nick 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 to office morale and our collective work 
product are emblematic of his good character, competence, and strong 
work ethic.
  Throughout his tenure in my Office, Nick 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 military officers who have made 
impactful contributions to my office and U.S. national security policy. 
Over the year, Nick prepared and advised me on wide-ranging and complex 
matters under consideration before the Senate Armed Services Committee. 
His attention to detail served me well; Nick managed over 400 
individual authorization and appropriation requests, 455 markup 
amendments, and over 900 floor amendments. He brought his cybersecurity 
and budget expertise to assist me in the Strategic Forces Subcommittee 
briefings and deliberations, which resulted in important funding 
authorizations and legislation. He authored and shepherded a provision 
in the final act that establishes an artificial intelligence watermark 
competition across the private sector and Federal Government. Nick's 
outstanding leadership showed in his work with constituents and while 
securing legislation to address changes to basic allowance for housing 
and oversight of the transition assistance program.
  Further, he authored sections of legislative text and report 
language, including one of my top concerns regarding hypersonic defense 
and securing important funding for advanced research impacting Maine 
from Aroostook to York County. In addition, he became my go-to lead for 
monitoring the horrific wars in Ukraine and Israel, 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 in the U.S. Congress, I extend my deepest 
gratitude to Major Oltman for his unwavering dedication to my staff, 
the State of Maine, the U.S. Marine Corps, and our Nation. The 
greatness of the U.S. military is built on the service and sacrifice of 
servicemembers like Major Oltman. His commitment is not a solitary 
endeavor, and I want to acknowledge the support of his family: his wife 
Meghan and his son Sean. I wish them all the best as they embark on 
what I am certain is a bright future.

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