[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MAJOR STEPHEN G. PURDY

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to recognize Major Stephen G. 
Purdy, Jr., of the U.S. Air Force for the outstanding contributions he 
rendered this year while serving as a legislative fellow on my staff. 
Stephen will soon complete his Capitol Hill fellowship, and it is my 
hope that he has benefited as much from this experience as I have 
benefited from having him on my staff.
  In the course of Stephen's military career, he has served rotations 
in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters and the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions, 
Space and Nuclear Programs. While working at the Space and Missile 
Systems Center, Stephen was the Atlas V Program chief engineer. 
Additionally, Stephen has served as the Joint Counterair Acquisition 
Manager at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for 
Acquisitions, Global Power Directorate. Finally, before joining my 
office Stephen was posted to the Secretary of the Air Force Office of 
Legislative Liaison.
  To my great benefit, Stephen joined my office in a year when the Air 
Force was searching for a new mission for Cannon Air Force base in New 
Mexico. Cannon was originally targeted for closure on the Department of 
Defense's, DOD, Base Closure and Realignment, BRAC, list. However, the 
BRAC Commission ultimately found that the DOD ``substantially 
deviated'' on several BRAC selection criteria and required that DOD 
shall seek a new mission for Cannon. Stephen's experience proved 
critical in our successful efforts to secure a new mission for Cannon. 
I have no doubt that his tireless work and dedication were important to 
the Air Force's decision to relocate the Air Force Special Operation 
Command's 16th Special Operations Wing to Cannon, which has ensured 
that Cannon will continue to play an important role in securing our 
Nation.
  I must also thank Stephen's family for enduring his many late nights 
at work. So to Wendy, Stephen's wife, and the Purdy children, Taylor 
and Holly, I say thank you. And without question, you can be extremely 
proud of Stephen's dedication to our country.
  Finally, Mr. President, I give my heartfelt thanks to Stephen for his 
service. His can-do attitude and tireless work ethic were infectious. 
His willingness to tackle issues which were new to him and to embrace 
the goals I've set for my staff on behalf of both the men and women of 
the Armed Forces and the citizens of New Mexico were truly commendable. 
I have no doubt that as Stephen continues his military career he will 
achieve great things for both the U.S. Air Force and his country, and I 
wish him the very best of luck in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________