[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31585]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LIEUTENANT GENERAL DAVID POYTHRESS

 Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, today I recognize the career and 
achievements of a great military officer, civilian leader, and friend. 
After a long and distinguished career culminating with nearly 44 years 
of service, LTG David Poythress will retire from the United States Air 
National Guard, with the honor of being the first adjutant general of 
Georgia to reach the rank of lieutenant general.
  General Poythress was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1964, a 
time in our Nation's history when serving in the military brought with 
it not only a requirement to face the enemy abroad but also the 
willingness to serve despite a divided nation.
  General Poythress received his law degree from Emory University in 
1967 and was a distinguished graduate of Emory's ROTC program. Shortly 
thereafter, he was called to active duty and served 1 year as chief of 
military justice at DaNang Air Base, Vietnam. He served as a judge 
advocate general in the Air Force Reserve, rising from the rank of 
captain to brigadier general. During this same time period, 
complimenting his military career, he served the State of Georgia 
honorably as the assistant attorney general, the deputy state revenue 
commissioner, the secretary of State of Georgia, and the State labor 
commissioner.
  In 1999, he was appointed as the adjutant general of Georgia, with 
his tenure encompassing what may be the Georgia National Guard's most 
dynamic and demanding period in its 243-year history. Under General 
Poythress's leadership, the Georgia National Guard deployed nearly 
10,000 soldiers and airmen around the world in support of the global 
war on terror, and more than 2,200 guardsmen to help Gulf Coast States 
following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The Georgia Guard 
completed high profile/high risk security missions following September 
11, 2001, and also conducted dangerous operations on the Mexican 
border.
  General Poythress's contributions will be appreciated by generations 
of Georgia guardsmen far in the future. He was successful in achieving 
the long-standing Georgia goal of legislation and funding for a State 
retirement plan for traditional guardsmen. He led the Georgia National 
Guard in winning the Oglethorpe Award for performance excellence. He 
also oversaw Robins Air Force Base's 116th Air Control Wing's 
transition from B-1s to a highly modernized Joint STARS unit.
  General Poythress's noteworthy service and responsibilities have been 
widely recognized. His distinguished honors include the Legion of 
Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one device, the Air Force 
Commendation Medal with one device, the Vietnam Service Medal with one 
device and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  The Georgia National Guard will miss General Poythress's commitment 
to duty, ceaseless drive for improvement, and unwavering support for 
guardsmen, soldiers, and airmen everywhere. Although I will miss his 
service in the capacity as adjutant general, I am especially pleased 
that he will remain in the great State of Georgia and continue to serve 
both publicly and privately as he has done throughout his life. I hope 
my colleagues will join me in wishing him well in all his future 
endeavors and hope that those who follow in his footsteps will continue 
his legacy of support to Georgia and our great Nation.

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