[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5932-S5933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM N. PHILLIPS

  Ms. BRITT. Mr. President, I wish to recognize and honor LTG William 
``Bill'' N. Phillips, a distinguished veteran of the U.S. Army, where 
he retired as the senior acquisition officer after 38 years of 
exemplary service. Lieutenant General Phillips's career was marked by 
his exceptional leadership, strategic foresight, and commitment to our 
Nation's soldiers and defense.
  During his tenure as the Military Deputy to the Army Acquisition 
Executive and as Acquisition Advisor to the Chief of Staff and 
Secretary of the Army, Lieutenant General Phillips made profound 
contributions to our military capabilities. Leading an organization of 
16 Senior Executives and 6,000 personnel, he had oversight of more than 
600 programs and transformed Army acquisition policy and processes 
resulting in savings of more than $2 billion through rightsized and 
efficient program execution.
  As the commander of the Joint Contracting Command for both Iraq and 
Afghanistan, his leadership was instrumental in managing operations 
that

[[Page S5933]]

executed more than 38,000 contracts totaling more than $8 billion and 
providing critical and timely support to our combat forces.
  Serving as the Program Executive Officer for Ammunition, he managed 
12 Army ammunition plants and depots and delivered more than 300 
different categories of ammunition totaling $4 billion, providing 
critical capabilities to every service. As the Deputy Program Executive 
Officer for Aviation, he effectively managed the Army's five major 
aviation programs totaling more than $14 billion. His strategic 
initiatives directly impacted the modernization of over 80 percent of 
the Army's aviation fleet.
  Following his distinguished military career, Lieutenant General 
Phillips continued to impact our national defense strategy through his 
senior roles in the defense industrial base, notably at the Boeing 
Company in Huntsville, AL. There, he was responsible for delivering 
combat capabilities to the military, including AH-64 Apache, CH-47 
Chinook, Long Range Precision Fires, Future Vertical Lift Unmanned 
Aerial Systems, and support across a broad array of Special Operations 
Aircraft.
  His service to our country has been recognized with numerous 
prestigious awards, including Army Acquisition Commander of the Year, 
induction into the Defense Acquisition University Hall of Fame, the 
``Federal 100'' award, and an Honorary Doctorate at Middle Tennessee 
State University, underscoring his vast influence on our national 
defense.
  Therefore, on behalf of the people of the great State of Alabama and 
our Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Lieutenant General 
William ``Bill'' N. Phillips for his dedicated service and enduring 
contributions to our Nation's safety and security.

                          ____________________