[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING KELLY WHEATON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE 
                  TRANSPORTATION SERVICE ADMINSTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2024

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Mr. 
Kelly Wheaton, who is retiring after more than 38 years of faithful 
Service to our Nation culminating in his service as the Deputy Chief 
Counsel for Enforcement in the Transportation Security Administration 
for the past 14 years.
  Kelly Wheaton was born in Dallas, Texas, and was raised in a small 
town in the middle of Tennessee after his father died at a young age. 
Mr. Wheaton went on to attend the University of Notre Dame on a four-
year ROTC scholarship and graduated with honors. After undergrad, he 
graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of 
Law.
  His passion for service and dedication to our country led Mr. Wheaton 
to the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. There, he 
served 23 years and rose to the rank of colonel. He held almost every 
position in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and was deployed to 
Saudi Arabia in 1990, Liberia in 2003, and Afghanistan in 2005. He 
received numerous accolades and honors throughout his military service, 
including the Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan and the 
Defense Superior Service Medal for his service as the Chief of Staff 
for the DoD General Counsel.
  In 2008, Mr. Wheaton joined the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) in the role of Deputy Chief Counsel for 
Enforcement. As the Deputy chief Counsel, he held authority from the 
Administrator to address violations of TSA's security requirements. He 
oversaw the work of attorneys providing legal advice and support in the 
areas of regulatory enforcement, intelligence, international law, 
criminal law and internal investigations, and credentialing, vetting, 
and screening.
  From January 2021 until June 2021, Mr. Wheaton was selected to 
accompany the Administrator when he served as the Acting Secretary and 
Acting Deputy Secretary. That year his efforts were recognized when he 
received the prestigious Presidential Rank Award, Meritorious Rank 
Recipient, an award that was established back in 1978 to honor a select 
group of career members for a sustained record of exceptional 
professional achievement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. 
Wheaton on his retirement. I am proud to represent Mr. Wheaton in 
Congress, and I thank him and his family for his honorable 38 years of 
service to our Nation with the U.S. Army and Transportation Security 
Administration.

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