[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR ALFORD L. McMICHAEL

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor 
SGM Alford L. McMichael, U.S. Marine Corps. He retires after 36 years 
of dedicated service to his country and the U.S. Marine Corps.
  The consummate Marine, he typifies every desirable characteristic of 
a staff Non-Commissioned Officer, NCO--unsurpassed leadership, 
mentorship, guidance, courage, and dedication. Sergeant Major McMichael 
has served his country in tours throughout the world. He has provided 
leadership to generations of marines through tours of duty as sergeant 
major of the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, 31st Marine 
Expeditionary Unit, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Headquarters U.S. 
Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, and the 14th 
sergeant major of the Marine Corps.
  His career culminated in his appointment as the first senior 
noncommissioned officer for Allied Command Operations to Supreme 
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, the strategic NATO headquarters in 
Mons, Belgium. In that capacity, Sergeant Major McMichael has been 
instrumental in developing and elevating the role of the 
noncommissioned officer in the militaries of NATO member countries in 
order to enhance their military effectiveness.
  With limited resources and with purpose of conviction, Sergeant Major 
McMichael has been responsible for the Armed Forces of predominantly 
former Soviet-block nations to adopt professional noncommissioned 
officer and staff noncommissioned officer programs. This momentous 
feat, accomplished virtually singlehandedly, is a landmark in the 
Alliance's 21st Century transformation. The United States and the NATO 
Alliance have been most fortunate to have had Sergeant Major McMichael 
within their ranks for over three decades.
  The Department of the Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, Congress, and the 
American people have been served extraordinarily well by this dedicated 
American. Members of this Congress will not soon forget the leadership, 
service, and dedication of Sergeant Major McMichael. He will be missed, 
yet his contributions will resonate far and deeply into the 
institutions to which he so well and faithfully devoted his life. From 
a grateful nation, we bestow our profound appreciation to Sergeant 
Major McMichael, his lovely wife Rita, and their daughter Portia, and 
offer our very best as they end an important chapter in their lives and 
embark upon a new journey. May they forever be counted in our 
blessings.

                          ____________________