[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11310-11311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JOHN K. ELLSWORTH

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional officer in the United States Air Force Reserve, an 
individual that a great many of us have come to know personally over 
the past few years, Colonel John K. Ellsworth. Colonel Ellsworth, who 
serves as Deputy Chief of the Air Force Senate Liaison Office, and was 
recently promoted to Colonel, will be leaving his position to attend 
the prestigious Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. During his 
assignment here on Capitol Hill, Colonel Ellsworth personified the Air 
Force core values of integrity, service, and excellence in the many 
missions the Air Force performs in support of our national security. 
Many Members and staff enjoyed the opportunity to work with him on a 
variety of Air Force issues and traveled with him on a multitude of 
fact-finding trips around the world. To a person, they all recognize 
and deeply appreciate his character, dedication to duty,

[[Page 11311]]

and professionalism. Today it is my privilege to recognize some of 
Colonel Ellsworth's many accomplishments, and to commend the superb 
service he provided the Air Force, the Congress, and our Nation.
  Colonel Ellsworth entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officers' 
Training Corps program at the Citadel, SC. He served in various 
operational support and staff assignments including duty as a 
maintenance officer for many of the Air Force's aircraft. Throughout 
his distinguished career, Colonel Ellsworth's exceptional leadership 
skills were always evident to both superiors and subordinates as he 
repeatedly proved himself in numerous select leadership and command 
positions.
  During his current assignment of working with the Congress, Colonel 
Ellsworth provided a clear and credible voice for the Air Force while 
representing its many programs on Capitol Hill, consistently providing 
accurate, concise and timely information. His integrity, 
professionalism and expertise enabled him to develop and maintain an 
exceptional rapport between the Air Force and the Congress. The key to 
his success, I believe, was his deep understanding of Congressional 
processes and priorities, and his unflinching advocacy of programs 
essential to the Air Force and to our Nation.
  I am very pleased that Colonel Ellsworth is about to begin the next 
phase of his career as a senior officer in our Air Force. I offer my 
sincere congratulations and best wishes to his as he heads for his next 
assignment where he will further his knowledge of national security 
strategy with other warriors of our armed forces.
  On behalf of the Congress and our great Nation, I thank Colonel 
Ellsworth and his entire family for the commitment and sacrifice they 
have made throughout his career. I know I speak for all of my 
colleagues in expressing my heartfelt appreciation to Colonel Ellsworth 
for a job well done. He is certainly a credit to the Air Force and the 
United States. We wish our friend the best of luck in his new 
assignment.

                          ____________________