[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17916]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO LOUISE L. FRANCESCONI ON HER RETIREMENT

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                        HON. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and great 
respect to Louise L. Francesconi, as she retires after 33 years of 
service to our great Nation as the President of Raytheon Missile 
Systems in Tucson, Arizona.
  Ms. Francesconi is retiring from this position after leading the 
world's largest missile company, with sales of $5B and nearly 13,000 
employees, which for years has helped guarantee our Nation's security 
and interests worldwide. Her systems have been employed to protect the 
lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines 
around the world.
  Louise began her remarkable career in 1975 in Canoga Park, CA, as a 
financial analyst with Hughes Missile Systems Company. In fact, she 
comes from a family of ``missileers.'' Louise credits her father, Leo 
Langlois, an engineer with Hughes, for getting her into the business 
right after her graduation from Scripps College in Claremont, CA.
  After joining Hughes, Louise began her meteoric rise through the 
company. Louise quickly became known and had the well-deserved 
reputation of being able to not only structure a win-win business deal, 
but also help the organization think through complex issues and 
challenges.
  In 1993 and the years that followed, she became Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President of Hughes 
Missile Systems Company and eventually, after the Hughes merger with 
Raytheon, President of Raytheon Missile Systems. Throughout her career, 
Louise has been known as an inspiring mentor, teacher and role model to 
all. Her mastery of business strategy enabled the Missile Company to 
grow over 100 percent in sales over the last 6 years rising to become 
southern Arizona's number one employer. Louise's dedication to the U.S. 
warfighter and our allies and friends around the world is legendary. 
From the Tomahawk Cruise Missile to the complex Missile Defense Systems 
that guard our homeland, she has provided for the collective defense of 
this great Nation.
  Grounded by her strong love of family, to include her husband John, 
their children, her parents, in-laws and brother and sister, she has 
continued to provide strength and inspiration to her Raytheon family. 
Her long-lasting legacy will be her dedication to the people of 
Raytheon and her strong core values of inclusiveness, personal and 
professional ethics and leadership excellence.
  I join with my colleagues on behalf of all the freedom loving people 
around the world to offer our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to a 
true American patriot. Louise has earned our respect and admiration as 
a champion for freedom and a role model for all.

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