[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7083-7084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following 
nominations: Calendar Nos. 46, 66, 67, 68, 69, and all nominations on 
the Secretary's desk.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, 
the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements 
relating to the nominations be printed in the record, the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return 
to legislative business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations were considered and confirmed as follows:


                         department of defense

       Charles S. Abell, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary 
     of Defense.


                         department of commerce

       Brenda L. Becker, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary 
     of Commerce.
       Theodore William Kassinger, of Maryland, to be General 
     Counsel of the Department of Commerce.


                      department of transportation

       Michael P. Jackson, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of 
     Transportation.


                              coast guard

       The following named officers for appointment in the United 
     States Coast Guard to the grade indicated under title 14, 
     U.S.C., section 271:

                           To be rear admiral

     Rear Adm. (lh) David R. Nicholson, 0000
     Rear Adm. (lh) Ronald F. Silva, 0000
       PN193. Coast Guard nominations (167) beginning Quincey N. 
     Adams, and ending Kathryn L. Wunderlich, which nominations 
     were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of March 19, 2001.
       PN203. Coast Guard nominations (236) beginning Benes Z. 
     Aldana, and ending Marshall E. Wright, which nominations were 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of March 22, 2001.
       PN223. Coast Guard nominations (112) beginning Pauline F. 
     Cook, and ending Tarik L. Williams, which nominations were 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of April 3, 2001.


                     Nomination of Charles S. Abell

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is with mixed emotions that I come 
before my colleagues today to express my profound congratulations to 
Mr. Charles S. Abell on the occasion of his confirmation by the Senate 
as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy. I have 
had the great pleasure and distinct honor to work with Charlie Abell 
for the past 8 years, during his service as a professional staff member 
on the Senate Armed Services Committee. While we are all extremely 
proud of him, it is difficult to see him go.
  Charlie Abell began his service to country with a distinguished 26-
year

[[Page 7084]]

career in the U.S. Army. Charlie enlisted in the Army in 1966, and 
retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1992. During his military career, he 
served as both an infantry officer as well as a Cobra attack helicopter 
pilot. He was a highly decorated officer who led an infantry platoon, 
an infantry company, and attack helicopter units during two combat 
tours in Vietnam. Charlie has always been at the ``scene of action.''
  Mr. Abell's decorations include the Legion of Merit, four Meritorious 
Service Medals, the Purple Heart, two bronze stars for Valor, 14 Air 
Medals, two for valor, the Army Commendation Medal for valor and the 
Combat Infantryman's Badge.
  Following his successful Army career, Charlie joined the Senate Armed 
Services Committee staff. He has been a most valued member of our 
``team''. Charlie has been the lead staff member for the Personnel 
Subcommittee for the past eight years, and has been responsible for a 
wide range of issues concerning military personnel and quality of life. 
His expertise and counsel have been invaluable to the members of the 
Armed Services Committee--and indeed the Senate as a whole--as we have 
worked over the past several years to reform the military retirement 
system, enhance military pay, improve the military health care system, 
and honor our commitment to all military retirees to provide health 
care for life. Charlie's achievements with our Committee have truly 
touched the lives of all members of the military services--Active Duty, 
Reserve Components and retirees--and their families as well. I offer my 
sincere gratitude for his outstanding work in these endeavors on behalf 
of myself and all of the members and staff of the Committee on Armed 
Services.
  Today, Charlie Abell was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve in the 
position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy. 
While it is difficult for us to lose such a valuable member of our 
committee staff, we are all very proud of Charlie and know that he will 
be a very important addition to Secretary Rumfeld's staff. We will miss 
his professionalism, his depth of knowledge, his humility, and most of 
all his friendship. Charlie is a true professional and will continue to 
serve his country, and the Department of Defense with honor and 
distinction. I wish he and his wife, Cathy, fair winds and following 
seas, and will truly miss daily interactions with this dear friend and 
outstanding American.

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