[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 20626-20627]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              TRIBUTE TO GENERAL CHARLES T. ROBERTSON, JR.

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I wish to take this opportunity to 
recognize and say farewell to an outstanding Air Force officer, General 
Charles T. ``Tony'' Robertson, Jr., upon his retirement from the Air 
Force after more than 33 years of commissioned service. Over the years, 
many Members and staff have enjoyed the opportunity to meet with 
General Robertson on a variety of joint military issues and have come 
to appreciate his many talents. Indeed, throughout his career, General 
Robertson has served with distinction, and it is my privilege today to 
recognize his many accomplishments and to commend him for the superb 
service he has provided the Air Force and our Nation.
  General Robertson entered the Air Force in 1968 as a graduate of the 
U.S. Air Force Academy. After successfully completing pilot training, 
he served his Nation by flying 150 combat missions as a gunship pilot 
in Southeast Asia while stationed with the 18th Special Operations 
Squadron in South Vietnam. Lieutenant Robertson was then assigned to 
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he became a B-52 co-pilot, 
aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner with the 17th 
Bombardment Wing. Moving on to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, he 
first became Assistant to the Chief of Staff, then Aide and Executive 
Officer to the Vice Commander in Chief, Headquarters, Strategic Air 
Command. His next assignment was to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New 
York, as an FB-111 Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, and Assistant 
Operations Officer.
  As a lieutenant colonel, he served as a Plans and Programming Officer 
in the Air Force Programs and Evaluation Directorate at the Pentagon 
before returning to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, in 1982, as Commander, 
529th Bomb Squadron, and then as Assistant Deputy Commander for 
Maintenance, 380th Bombardment Wing. After completing studies at the 
National War College at Fort McNair in Washington D.C., he was promoted 
to colonel in 1985.
  During that same year, Colonel Robertson returned to the Pentagon to 
serve as Executive Officer to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, 
Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He went on to become Commander of the 2nd 
Bombardment Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in 1987, then 
Commander of the 384th Bombardment Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, 
Kansas, in 1989. As Commander of the 384th, Colonel Robertson was 
honored as the Strategic Air Command Outstanding Wing Commander of the 
Year for 1989. Following his tour at McConnell, he returned to Offutt 
Air Force Base where he served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Plans and Resources, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, and was 
promoted to Brigadier General in 1991.
  As a general officer, General Robertson excelled in a number of key 
assignments, including Director of Personnel Plans, Headquarters U.S. 
Air Force and then Vice Director of the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of 
Staff at the Pentagon; Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air 
Force Base, Illinois; Commander, 15th Air Force at Travis Air Force 
Base, California; and culminating with his current assignment as 
Commander in Chief, United States Transportation Command, USTRANS- COM, 
and Commander, Air Mobility Command, AMC.
  Over his career, General Robertson demonstrated his skill as an 
aviator by safely accumulating over 4,700 hours of flight time in the 
AC-119K, B-1B, B-2, B-52, C-5, C-9, C-17, C-20B, C-21, C-37, C-130, C-
141, EC-135, FB-111A, KC-10, KC-135, T-1, T-6, T-37, T-38, and T-39 
aircraft.
  As Commander in Chief, USTRANS- COM, General Robertson's leadership 
has been indispensable to the readiness of the Defense Transportation 
System to accomplish its mission, getting troops to the fight, 
sustaining the fight, and then bringing the troops back home when the 
fight is over. As a tireless ``Total Force'' advocate, his commitment 
to fully integrating guard and reserve forces into all aspects of the 
Command has reaped great dividends and great praise. Recognizing the 
essential role of our commercial transportation industry in supporting 
the USTRANSCOM mission, General Robertson lifted this partnership to 
unprecedented levels through such critical programs as the Civil 
Reserve Air Fleet, the Maritime Security Program, and the Voluntary 
Intermodal Sealift Agreement. Following the terrorist bombing of Khobar 
Towers, and then again after the attack on the USS COLE, the global 
force protection programs he developed for his always ``in-transit'' 
forces were held as the model for others to emulate.
  His factual and pointed testimonies before the Senate Armed Services 
Committee illustrated the professionalism and expertise which has 
enabled him to foster exceptional rapport with all members of the 
Senate and was a clear indication of his ability to work with the 
Congress in addressing the priorities of his Command. Finally, as 
evidence of his clear vision for the future, he diligently labored to 
ensure programs such as follow-on C-17 procurement, C-5 modernization, 
and airlift defensive systems were in-place to ensure the 
transformation of the mobility fleet to meet the challenges of 
tomorrow.
  An exemplary officer of unmatched skill and talent, General Robertson 
personifies the Air Force core values of integrity, selfless service, 
and excellence in all things. I offer my congratulations to him, his 
wife, Brenda, and sons, Sean and Jason. The Congress and the country 
applaud the selfless commitment his entire family has made to the 
Nation in supporting his military career.
  I know I speak for all of my colleagues in expressing my heartfelt 
appreciation to General Robertson. He is a credit to both the Air Force 
and the United States and I congratulate him on the completion of an 
outstanding

[[Page 20627]]

and successful career. May God continue to bless Tony, his family and 
the United States of America.

                          ____________________