[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THANKING COLONEL ARIEL BATUNGBACAL FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2024

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing 
the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) Commander, 
Colonel Ariel Batungbacal, farewell and thank you as she departs 
command, after serving at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for the past 
four years--first as a NASIC Group Commander and then as the NASIC Wing 
Commander.
  Colonel Batungbacal commissioned in 2001, quickly rising through the 
ranks to Colonel and, most recently, confirmed to the rank of Brigadier 
General. In other words, through 23 years of dedicated service to her 
Nation, Colonel Batungbacal has earned a spot in the top two percent of 
all eligible members who achieve the General Officer rank. An 
outstanding achievement.
  Colonel Batungbacal distinguished herself through her dedicated 
service to the Department of Defense and her visionary leadership of 
NASIC, the U.S. Air Force's Service Intelligence Center. During her 
command, Colonel Batungbacal led the Center through an unprecedented 
organizational change, adopting an A-staff structure and realigning 
squadrons to better support mission execution for the high-end fight.
  Colonel Batungbacal elevated NASIC's analytic ecosystem by 
accelerating a multi-year digital transformation effort, prioritizing 
systems and processes that serve to increase information sharing and 
remove barriers to collaboration. By weaving these transformation 
efforts into the Center's near and long-term strategies, she provided 
the organization with an integrated, measurable path to success. The 
entire Center has leveraged this effort to accelerate 20 analytic 
modernization projects, with 245 efforts pending future Center action.
  Under her leadership, NASIC led a joint DoD and FBI project 
concerning a high visibility national effort, enabling critical 
analysis and dissemination to policy makers. While in command, she also 
hosted two U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence retreats, effectively showcasing NASIC's efforts aligned 
to the National Defense Strategy. This unprecedented, bipartisan 
committee retreat was also attended by 10 senior leaders of the 
intelligence community. I brought two Speakers of the House to witness 
the NASIC magic themselves and experience first-hand the tremendous 
impact these ``MacGyvers'' of the Air Force have on our national 
defense posture.
  During her tenure as the NASIC Wing Commander, Colonel Batungbacal 
oversaw the completion of a $155 million military construction 
project--one of the largest in Wright-Patterson's history. Most 
impressive, this project finished ahead of schedule and under budget. 
The world-class, purpose-built addition increased NASIC's footprint by 
255,000 sq. feet, providing an additional 980 seats and cutting-edge 
lab space to the U.S. Air Force's largest Sensitive Compartmented 
Information Facility.
  With an intentional focus on workforce development, Colonel 
Batungbacal repurposed an existing facility to provide internal 
training opportunities to grow and enhance the careers of her nearly 
3,800-member force. Since the building's reopening in 2023, NASIC has 
hosted nearly 150 classes, training an excess of approximately 1920 
individuals. Instructors are often in-house NASIC employees and 
specialists in their field, offering unique learning opportunities to 
enhance their colleagues' skillsets.
  In addition to her impressive accomplishments as Commander, Colonel 
Batungbacal's creativity and innovation has shaped the way NASIC is 
perceived across the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, 
and the state of Ohio. Colonel Batungbacal has left a lasting 
impression with her creative vision, unifying the mission across the 
Center and pioneering a recognizable NASIC brand. She will be missed, 
but I appreciate the lasting efforts she made upon NASIC, Wright-
Patterson, and the Dayton community. We wish her the best of luck in 
her next endeavors at A2/6.

                          ____________________