[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17315]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MR. RALPH CONTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ralph Conte, who 
recently retired as Chief of the Civil Engineering Facility Programming 
Branch Air National Guard. Ralph attained this position in 1990, 
assuming the duties as lead engineering programmer for the National 
Guard, providing infallible advice, council, and programming decisions.
  Ralph was born in 1940 in Ponza, Italy, a small Mediterranean island 
off the coast of Anzio. He lived his early years as a citizen of Italy, 
playing with childhood friends and attending the Italian school system, 
which at that time was limited to the 5th grade. This academic level is 
comparable to an American 9th grade education.
  Ralph immigrated to America in 1956 with mother and brother; joining 
his father who had left Italy for the United States in 1954. The trip 
from Naples to New York Harbor took 7 days on the grand dame of the 
sea, the Andrea Doria. This was the Andrea Doria's second to last trip 
before her horrific collision and sinking of July 25, 1956. Upon 
arriving in the United States, the Conte family settled in White 
Plains, New York, where Ralph became a naturalized U.S. citizen in July 
1961, and graduated from White Plains High School. He continued his 
education, attending New York University, Bronx Campus, receiving a BS 
in Civil Engineering and Central Michigan University receiving a 
Master's Degree in Industrial Management.
  Ralph joined the Air Force on April 20, 1967 and was commissioned as 
a 2nd Lt on June 30, 1967. From 1967 to 1970, he served on consecutive 
oversea tours from Aviano to Vietnam. In 1970, he was assigned to RED 
HORSE with Headquarters in Bien Hoa where he was responsible for all 
design and construction. Later, he was reassigned to Kunsan AB, Korea 
as the Officer in Charge for a Detachment of the RHS out of Cam Ran 
Bay. In 1972, Ralph was again reassigned to Wright Patterson, Ohio, 
where he assumed the oversight of facility programming including MFH, 
NAF, MILCON, R&D and O&M funds. Wright Patterson would be Ralph's last 
stop as an active duty service member, as he separated from the Air 
Force on Apri1 30, 1975 at the rank of Captain. Since 1975, Ralph has 
faithfully worked for the Air Force as a civilian in his former job, 
achieving his final assignment in 1990 as Chief of the Facility 
Programming Branch (ANG/CEP).
  Mr. Speaker, throughout his career, Ralph Conte has demonstrated a 
profound commitment to the Air Force, Air National Guard and the 
Nation. He is a consummate professional whose performance in over 30 
years of service has personified those traits of competency and 
integrity that our Nation has come to expect of its senior civilian 
leaders. I would like to thank Ralph for his many years of dedicated 
service and wish he and his family a fulfilling retirement.

                          ____________________