[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 142 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO GENERAL JACQUELINE D. VAN OVOST

 Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, it is with great pride and 
gratitude that I rise to celebrate the career of General Jacqueline D. 
Van Ovost, who is retiring after 36 years of honorable service in the 
U.S. Air Force. General Van Ovost currently serves as the commander of 
U.S. Transportation Command, where she is responsible for projecting 
and sustaining our Nation's military power globally to assure our 
friends, deter our adversaries, and if necessary, respond to win 
decisively. She has undoubtedly excelled in executing her duties.
  In her time as USTRANSCOM's commander, she directed mobility 
operations supporting the movement of 60 Presidential Drawdown 
Authorities to deliver aid critical to Ukraine's defense against 
Russia's unprovoked invasion. Additionally, she has directed mobility 
forces to respond to the shifting strategic environment in western 
Africa, unrest in Haiti, and regional threats in the Middle East and 
the Red Sea, ultimately ensuring the safety of our deployed 
servicemembers, allies, and commercial shipping fleets from around the 
world.
  General Van Ovost began her career at the U.S. Air Force Academy. 
Following her commissioning, she graduated from pilot training. Over 
the course of her time in service, she deployed multiple times and was 
one of the first women to fly in combat. She is also a graduate of the 
U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, which gave her the opportunity to fly 
over 30 aircraft throughout her career. She commanded two flying wings, 
served on joint staff and as the chief of staff for Headquarters Air 
Force, and commanded Air Mobility Command during the noncombatant 
evacuation operation from Afghanistan, moving over 124,000 evacuees to 
safety.
  General Van Ovost is a mobility leader and strategic thinker who 
expertly directed those under her command and leveraged commercial 
support to provide the best options possible for our senior leaders. In 
every position that she held, she led with unmatched grace, dedication, 
dignity, professionalism, and respect for all those she encountered. 
Her character and leadership had untold positive impacts on thousands 
of servicemembers and their families.
  She advanced our Nation's mobility and logistics capabilities, 
supported our allied and partner nations, and advanced our strategic 
objectives to defend our citizens.
  General Van Ovost is a true military leader, one whom our country is 
endlessly grateful for having amongst its ranks. I thank her for her 
over 36 years of dedicated and faithful service to the United States of 
America.

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