[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO RETIRING COLONEL TONY A. IMONDI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Colonel 
Tony A. Imondi is retiring after a long and distinguished career.
  Colonel Imondi received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics 
from Dowling College in 1975. After completing Officer Training School 
in 1976, he entered the Air Force. In 1981, he received a Master of 
Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern 
California.
  In 1987, he joined the B-2 Stealth Bomber program and became a member 
of the B-2 Operational Test and Evaluation team and the Deputy 
Commander for Operations of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at 
Edwards AFB, CA. In September 1991, he became Strategic Air Command's 
very first B-2 pilot. He subsequently moved to Whiteman AFB, MO, upon 
delivery of the first production B-2. He was appointed Deputy Commander 
of the 509th Operations Group at Whiteman AFB, MO, in December 1993.
  After his promotion to Colonel, he attended the Industrial College of 
the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, DC. Following his 
distinguished graduation from ICAF, he served two years on the staff of 
the Secretary of Defense monitoring weapons testing before returning to 
Whiteman as the Commander of the 509th Operations Group in 1998.
  In 2000, Colonel Imondi assumed duties as the Vice Commander of the 
2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In September 2001, 
after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Colonel Imondi 
deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Vice Commander of 
the 28th AEW, conducting combat missions in Afghanistan. In 2002, 
Colonel Imondi was assigned to the Directorate of Operations, 
Headquarters AETC. Colonel Imondi is a command pilot with more than 
5,500 hours of flying experience in a wide variety of Air Force 
aircraft.
  Colonel Imondi's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior 
Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Legion of Merit Award, the 
Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Aerial Achievement 
Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in paying 
tribute to Colonel Tony A. Imondi for his exception commitment to the 
United States Air Force and the United States of America.

                          ____________________