[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DAN GIVENS

 Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I wish to recognize Mr. Dan Givens 
for his outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the 
aerospace sector and the national security of the United States. Dan 
will retire on June 29, 2024, after serving as the spaceport director 
for the Virginia Spaceport Authority's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport 
(MARS) since 2021. Dan was hired as operations manager in 2019 and has 
served as a strategic member of the Virginia Spaceport Authority--VSA--
team as it works to fulfill its mandates of developing and operating an 
operational spaceport that facilitates reliable access to space while 
stimulating aerospace-related economic activity across the Commonwealth 
of Virginia.
  During his tenure, Dan oversaw the management and operations of over 
$240 million worth of spaceport assets, including multiple launch pads, 
multiple support facilities, and a UAS airfield. He supported the 
construction of the newest two orbital launch pads at MARS, as well as 
two support facilities and supervised modifications to existing pads 
for continued use into the future. He oversaw nine successful launches 
of the Antares rocket, four of the Electron rockets--including 
Electron's first flight from U.S. soil--and two national security 
missions for the intelligence community. Dan was instrumental in 
establishing the Virginia Spaceport Authority's partnership with 
Vandenberg Space Force Base, including marking the first mission VSA 
supported outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Finally, Dan 
supported 14 customers with 20 different programs at the UAS airfield, 
reflecting 630 sorties and 959 flight hours in support of emerging 
unmanned capabilities. During his tenure, MARS grew 108 percent, from 
60 to 108 employees.
  VSA and MARS are fortunate to have such an effective leader in Dan 
Givens. I am pleased to reflect on his contributions to our 
Commonwealth here today and wish him a peaceful and relaxing retirement 
after a job well done.

                          ____________________