[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO MAJOR JEFFREY W. PRICHARD, U.S. AIR FORCE

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize and say farewell to an outstanding Air Force officer, Major 
Jeff ``JoBu'' Prichard, upon his departure from my staff. Major 
Prichard was selected as an Air Force Fellow to work in my office 
during the First Session of the 107th Congress due to his outstanding 
professional reputation and superior knowledge of Defense issues, the 
United States Air Force requirements process, and the military presence 
in my home State. He has been a valued team member and it is a 
privilege for me to recognize his many outstanding achievements and the 
superior service he has provided the United States Senate, the Air 
Force, and our Nation.
  Major Prichard, a native of the State of Mississippi, graduated from 
the University of Southern Mississippi and was commissioned a Second 
Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, ROTC. Since 
then, Major Prichard has spent the majority of his career patrolling 
the world's skies as an Air Force fighter pilot. Following flight 
training, he began his service flying the F-15C ``Eagle'' in the 67th 
Fighter Squadron, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in Okinawa, Japan. During 
this tour, Major Prichard was selected as a member of the 18th Wing 
team that won the 1992 Worldwide William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons 
Competition and he out flew all competitors to win the coveted 
``Topgun'' Trophy. After his tour in Japan, he reported to the 60th 
Fighter Squadron in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, where he deployed in support 
of Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 
where he led 34 combat missions patrolling the skies over Iraq 
enforcing the no-fly zone. Also during this tour, Major Prichard 
attended the Air Force's Weapons School at Nellis AFB, NV, and in 
September 1996 was handpicked to return as an instructor. In 1999, 
Major Prichard left the cockpit to serve on the staff of the Secretary 
of the Air Force in Washington, DC, as the Air-to-Air Missile Program 
Manager and then was selected to serve as a Military Legislative Fellow 
during the 1st session of the 107th Congress.
  Major Prichard quickly became a valued member of my staff sharing his 
proven operational experience and insightful knowledge on a number of 
Department of Defense issues, including defense health care, 
operational beddown of C-17 and C-130J aircraft, various weapons 
systems, military construction, and university research programs. 
Specifically, Jeff was instrumental in helping the Air Force craft a C-
130J Roadmap for future beddown of operational assets that took into 
account Congressional concerns. He helped me articulate a successful 
case for adding funding for additional maintenance training simulators 
and military construction projects that will help ensure the successful 
beddown in Jackson, MS of the first ever C-17 aircraft assigned to the 
National Guard. He helped craft new legislation that will ensure the 
financial viability of our Armed Forces Retirement Homes and the 
quality of life for the residents well into the 21st century. He also 
provided extremely valuable inputs in helping to craft legislation that 
established the future site of the Air Force Memorial while preserving 
as much acreage as possible for the Arlington National Cemetery. Major 
Prichard's coordination with the staffs of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee and the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee led to 
over $28 million in additional military construction funding for 
Mississippi's military bases and yielded over $100 million in research, 
development, test, and evaluation funds for universities in 
Mississippi.
  Major Prichard is married to the former Wendy Lynn Hurlbert of 
Minneapolis, MN. They have three children, 10-year-old daughter Sydney, 
8-year-old son Jeffrey Jr., and 5-year-old daughter Hailey. Among Major 
Prichard's many awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service 
Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation 
Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal.
  Major Prichard will return to the Air Force at Langley AFB, Virginia, 
where he will once again control the skies in the F-15C. I have 
appreciated greatly Major Jeff Prichard's contributions to my team and 
I will miss him. On behalf of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, 
I wish Major Prichard and his family ``Good Hunting and Godspeed.''

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