[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6092-S6093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL JONATHAN STUBBS

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate U.S. Army 
LTG Jonathan Stubbs on his promotion to director of the Army National 
Guard.
  General Stubbs was appointed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee 
Sanders to serve as adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard in 
January 2023 after a long and distinguished career in the National 
Guard.
  He first enlisted in the Army National Guard in Tennessee, but very 
quickly made his home in the Natural State and spent nearly three 
decades serving and leading citizen soldiers in Arkansas. In fact, he 
held every leadership position within the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat 
Team and deployed to Iraq twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  As an Active-Guard Reserve officer from 1997-2021, Stubbs completed 
numerous trainings and assignments, which culminated in his promotion 
as chief of staff for the Arkansas Army National Guard.
  His entire service in uniform has been characterized by bravery and 
skill, earning him decorations to include the Combat Infantryman Badge, 
Valorous Unit Award, three Legion of Merit citations, two Bronze Star 
Medals, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, among many others.
  His leadership potential and experience led to his appointment as 
vice director for operations for the National Guard Bureau in 2021, and 
the next year, he was assigned as the deputy director of Operations, 
Readiness, and Mobilization at Department of the Army Headquarters, 
based at the Pentagon.
  As head of the Arkansas National Guard, General Stubbs was a driving 
force of remarkable progress and growth. He connected communities to 
the Guard and enhanced relationships between servicemembers, families, 
veterans, businesses, and local leaders;

[[Page S6093]]

elevated recruiting and retention efforts that had struggled amid the 
pandemic through innovative approaches, including partnership with 
skills and vocational initiatives; ensured guardsmen's preparedness to 
not only deploy in defense of our country to Europe and the Middle 
East, but also around the State of Arkansas and to the U.S. southern 
border; built and expanded partnerships, particularly with National 
Guard State Partnership Program counterpart Guatemala; and helped 
inspire confidence in the Arkansas Guard's capabilities and personnel 
through excellent communication, professionalism, and unmistakable 
passion.
  It was a special pleasure and honor to work alongside General Stubbs 
to secure a new flying mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base and 
help guide necessary preparations for the Active Duty-Air Force bed 
down in advance of the formal arrival of the Foreign Military Sales 
Program in Fort Smith. His expertise and diligence were indispensable 
to the success of this incredibly consequential opportunity for the 
State of Arkansas that will also greatly benefit U.S. national 
security.
  As he begins this new chapter leading our Army National Guard, we are 
tremendously grateful for all his contributions to our State and 
stewardship of the Arkansas Guard for so many years. General Stubbs 
will undoubtedly continue to make the Natural State proud through his 
exceptional leadership, steadfast commitment to the guardsmen under his 
command, and dedication to the defense of the United States, its 
allies, and interests. We wish him well in this new role.

                          ____________________