[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23280-23281]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   MAJOR GENERAL PAUL A. WEAVER, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House of Representatives 
today to take a moment to recognize one of the finest officers in our 
Armed Forces, Major General Paul A. Weaver, Jr., the director of the 
Air National Guard.
  Well known and respected by many Members in this Chamber, General 
Weaver will soon retire after almost 35 years of selfless service to 
our country. Today I am honored to acknowledge some of General Weaver's 
distinguished accomplishments, and to commend the

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superb service he has provided to the Air National Guard, the Air 
Force, and our great Nation.
  After completing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Arts 
in Ithaca College in New York, he entered the United States Air Force 
in 1967 and was commissioned through Officer Training School. After 
earning his pilot wings, he had flying assignments in the F-4E and O-
2A, and completed overseas tours in Germany and Korea.
  In 1975, he joined the New York Air National Guard, with which he 
served in increasing levels of responsibility. This culminated when he 
took command of the 305th Airlift Group at Stewart Air National Guard 
Base, New York, in 1985.
  Following his 9 years as commander, General Weaver served as the Air 
National Guard's deputy director for 4 years and was appointed the 
director of the Air Guard in 1998.
  General Weaver is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flying hours 
in five different aircraft. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield, 
Desert Storm, and Just Cause. General Weaver's decorations include the 
Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service 
Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with 
two oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with Service Star, and 
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
  While serving as commander of the 105th Airlift wing, Paul Weaver was 
responsible for the largest conversion in the history of the Air 
National Guard. Under his command, the wing converted from the Air 
Force's smallest aircraft, the 0-2 Skymaster, to its largest, the C-5 
Galaxy.
  During this conversion, he oversaw the largest military construction 
program in the history of the reserve forces as he literally rebuilt 
Stewart Air National Guard Base.
  As the Air National Guard's director, General Weaver's 
accomplishments are also noteworthy. He has dedicated each year of his 
term to a different theme: transition, the enlisted forces, the family, 
employers, and thereby providing focus and enhancement to each of these 
four crucial areas.

                              {time}  2215

  In addition, Paul Weaver's modernization, readiness, people and 
infrastructure initiatives have enabled a fuller partnership role in 
the Air Force's expeditionary aerospace force.
  The Air Guard achieved all its domestic and global taskings and 
requirements with a force that is also smaller in size.
  Under General Weaver's leadership, the Air National Guard is even 
more relevant, ready and responsive and accessible than it has ever 
been.
  I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also mention that the 
Air National Guard is also fortunate to have another Weaver 
contributing to its success. Besides fully supporting his chosen 
profession, Paul's wife Cathylee Weaver has had a major impact on the 
Air Guard's family enrichment programs. With dignity and grace, she has 
dedicated time and attention to Air National Guard families which led 
to her recently being voted as Volunteer of the Year for Family 
Programs.
  Clearly, the Air National Guard will lose not only one but two 
exceptional people.
  Let me close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that as both its deputy director 
and director, General Weaver has made the Air National Guard a stronger 
and more capable partner for the Air Force. His distinguished and 
faithful service has provided significant and lasting contributions to 
our Nation's security.
  I know my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to this 
outstanding citizen-airman and true patriot upon his retirement from 
the Air National Guard. We all thank General Weaver and wish him, 
Cathylee and the entire Weaver family much health, great happiness and 
Godspeed.

                          ____________________