[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MICHAEL G. ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2009

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, today I wish to honor Michael G. 
Anderson--a great American. Mike has devoted his life to the service of 
our country for the past 38 years. For the first 32 years, Mike served 
in our United States Air Force. Most recently, Mike was the Chief of 
Staff of my congressional office, where he dedicated himself to working 
for the people of Alaska. After 6 years as my Chief, Mike retired and 
moved into the private sector where he serves Alaska Natives in his new 
capacity as President of Wolf Creek Fabrication Services, a subsidiary 
of Chugach Alaska Corporation.
  Born in Maui, Hawaii, Mike was appointed in July 1971 to the United 
States Air Force Academy by Senator Hiram L. Fong. After graduating 
from the Academy in June 1975, he launched a distinguished military 
career that began as a combat aircrew member and included operational 
and staff assignments in the B-52 and B-1B bombers. Additionally, Mike 
served as an acquisition program manager and commanded two aircraft 
maintenance squadrons as well as a logistics group. Mike concluded his 
military service at the Pentagon, where he was assigned to the 
Secretary of the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office. Notably, Mike 
set benchmarks and was recognized for high standards of performance and 
achievement at each of his assignments. He retired from the Air Force 
in January 2003 finishing his military career at the rank of Colonel.
  I handpicked Mike as my Chief of Staff after meeting and working with 
him on several congressional delegation (CODEL) trips to international 
locations and to Alaska. Mike began serving Alaska and Alaskans with 
the broad perspective he gained on those CODELs, and immediately gained 
knowledge and expertise that I would depend on throughout his 6 years 
on Capitol Hill. As Chief, Mike would serve when the largest 
transportation bill in our nation's history--SAFETEA-LU--was being 
formulated and passed. He would travel on my behalf throughout Alaska 
to ensure constituent issues were heard, investigated, and resolved 
quickly. He managed a staff that was assigned tough, Alaska-unique 
legislation, and coordinated congressional policy to make sure it 
served Alaska and national interests. As a result, my congressional 
office cemented and grew its reputation for timely and effective 
constituent services, and for authoring and coordinating relevant and 
meaningful legislation serving the interests of the people of Alaska.
  Mike also received the distinction of being selected and graduating 
as a Congressional Stennis Fellow for the 110th Congress. He was one of 
only 72 picked for this distinguished fellowship. He used relationships 
from the fellowships he nurtured to help secure my legislative 
priorities for Alaska and our great Nation.
  While Mike is moving on to a new career in the private sector, his 
impact and contribution to our work in Congress will continue. His 
expertise in Alaska Native issues garnered great respect for him, and 
will allow him to continue to serve that vital heart of Alaska's 
culture and heritage. We are grateful for his service to his Nation, to 
Congress, and to Alaska. More importantly, my wife Lu and I are most 
appreciative of his loyalty and friendship. Mike and his wife Rene have 
become dear friends, and we wish them Godspeed and the very best as 
they start their next career together.

                          ____________________