[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E45-E46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING ELIZABETH M. GONZALEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 17, 2024

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
exceptional career of Elizabeth M. Gonzalez, Chief of Congressional 
Affairs at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and a dear friend with 
whom I have had the privilege of working with for many years.
  Elizabeth was born in Hialeah, Florida to her loving Cuban American 
parents, German and Celia Gonzalez. Having been forced out of Cuba by 
Fidel Castro's regime in 1960, her parents instilled in her from a 
young age a deep appreciation for the sacrifices they made, the value 
of freedom from communist oppression, and an unshakeable pride in her 
Cuban heritage.
  Known for her drive and pursuit of academic excellence, Elizabeth 
graduated from Hialeah Senior High as the Valedictorian of her class, 
later graduating with honors from Harvard University with a Bachelor of 
Arts in Government and a Master of Education in Administration, 
Planning, and Social Policy. Propelled then by her tenacity and heart 
for service, Elizabeth stepped into what would be a remarkable career 
in service to our great Nation.
  Elizabeth began working in 2002 at the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) Headquarters as a Presidential Management Intern 
(PMI), where she developed and managed a distance learning science 
program for bilingual children that aired internationally on over 30 
television stations. She quickly rose in the ranks at NASA. working as 
a Legislative Specialist and finishing her tenure in the Office of the 
NASA Administrator as

[[Page E46]]

a Policy Analyst focused on NASA's space exploration mission.
  Upon returning to South Florida in 2005, Elizabeth served as the 
Deputy Director of Congressional Affairs at SOUTHCOM, directly advising 
the Commander on legislative matters. While in this position, she would 
hone her policy-making skills that she would later demonstrate 
throughout the rest of her career. In 2009, Elizabeth then pursued an 
opportunity to serve as Advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe 
and Director of Congressional Affairs for U.S. European Commander at 
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Headquarters in 
Belgium. After serving two years in this role, Elizabeth returned to 
Miami to serve as the Chief of Congressional Affairs at SOUTHCOM, a 
role she has since executed with such excellence as to merit two 
awards. Elizabeth was hailed by her own colleagues as the ``driving 
force behind Southern Command's outsized success and stellar reputation 
on our Nation's Capitol Hill,'' and has been venerated for her 
''visionary leadership, [and] exceptional strategic guidance''.
  Among her many hard-earned achievements, accolades, and awards, 
Elizabeth remains especially proud of her role as a loving mother to 
her son, Jake. She looks forward now to spending more time with her son 
and family enjoying white corn dinners after her many years of 
dedicated public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to commend Elizabeth Gonzalez for her 
tremendous service to our Nation and our shared enthusiasm. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

                          ____________________