[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CLIFFORD D. LINK

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2005

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Naval Criminal 
Investigative Service (NCIS) Special Agent Clifford D. Link, Assistant 
Director for Financial Management, who will retire after 30 years of 
federal service on October 1, 2005.
  Assistant Director Link started his federal career in June 1975 as a 
GS-2 clerk with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in New York. 
Working full-time during the day and attending classes at night, 
Assistant Director Link graduated from the distinguished John Jay 
College of Criminal Justice in New York. Subsequently, he was promoted 
in grade and joined the FBI Special Support Group (SSG) conducting 
counterintelligence surveillances.
  In 1978, Assistant Director Link was introduced to the (then) Naval 
Investigative Service (NIS) during a joint NIS/FBI proactive 
counterintelligence operation ``Operation Lemonade''. As a member of 
the FBI SSG, then Investigative Assistant Link was providing 
surveillance support to the joint operation. Through that relationship, 
Assistant Director Link was convinced that NIS was a growing, dynamic 
and progressive worldwide organization and that a NIS career would be 
challenging and rewarding.
  In October 1979, Assistant Director Link was offered a NIS Special 
Agent position with his initial assignment to NIS Resident Agency 
(NISRA) Washington, DC. Since then, Assistant Director Link has served 
as a Special Agent at NIS Resident Unit (NISRU) Bethesda, MD; NISRA 
Yokohama, Japan; and NISRA New York. Assistant Director Link also 
served in assignments as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) 
NISRA Point Loma, CA; ASAC NCIS Fraud Unit, San Diego, CA; SAC NCIS 
Fraud Unit, San Francisco, CA; ASAC (FCI) NCIS San Diego Field Office; 
RAC NCISRA Camp Pendleton, CA and DSAC San Diego Field Office. 
Assistant Director Link's NCIS Headquarters assignments included 
Program Manager for Defense Counterintelligence Integrated Information 
Systems, Executive Assistant to the Director for Planning and Strategy, 
Executive Assistant to the Director for Modernization, Executive 
Assistant to the Director for Transformation, and his current position 
as Assistant Director for Financial Management.
  During the 26 years of his NCIS career, Assistant Director Link has 
engaged in practically every aspect of NCIS operations, including 
criminal investigations, special and undercover operations, 
counterintelligence investigations and operations, fraud, 
counterterrorism, antiterrorism, force protection, hostage negotiations 
and overseas deployments. He also participated in and led protective 
service operations that put him in the presence of Presidents, Vice 
Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries, Members of Congress, Ambassadors, 
Foreign Dignitaries, Flag and General Officers, and various other 
federal, state and local leaders. Assistant Director Link had the 
opportunity to travel all over the globe, to include Europe, the Far 
East, Middle East and Iraq.
  After the bombing of the USS Cole, Assistant Director Link served as 
leader of the Secretary of the Navy's Situational Awareness and 
Intelligence Working Group and as a member of the Department of Defense 
Counterintelligence Working Group. He continued as a member of these 
task forces after the 
9/11 attacks.
  Transitioning to his NCISHQ assignment, Assistant Director Link was a 
co-leader in the NCIS Zero Based Review, was a member of the NCIS 
Strategic Management Council, led the development of the new NCIS 
Management and Administration Office, participated in the NCIS 
Modernization effort and, for the past year, has led the Financial 
Management Directorate. Mr. Speaker, Assistant Director Link has served 
this nation honorably for 30 years and deserves the recognition of this 
body, his community and the United States of America.

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