[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27760]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   GENERAL ARTHUR J. LICHTE RETIRES AFTER 38 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE 
                        UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 16, 2009

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
General Arthur J. Lichte on the occasion of his retirement from the 
United States Air Force.
  General Lichte grew up in Bronx, N.Y., where he graduated from 
Cardinal Spellman High School. In 1971, he entered the Air Force as a 
distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Manhattan College. 
General Lichte's Air Force career includes command positions at 
squadron, group, and wing levels and as a command pilot; he has logged 
more than 5,000 flying hours in various aircraft. In addition to his 
command experience, General Lichte has held headquarters-level 
assignments at Strategic Air Command, Air Mobility Command, United 
States Air Forces Europe, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Transportation 
Command. His latest assignment as Commander of the Air Mobility Command 
began in September 2007.
  General Lichte's journey to Air Mobility Command includes many 
notable achievements. As the 9th Air Refueling Commander at March Air 
Force Base, he led Strategic Air Command's first mission to the 
People's Republic of China, and as the acting Second Wing Commander at 
Barksdale Air Force Base, he launched and recovered a historic B-52 and 
KC-10 flight to Russia. It was also at Barksdale that General Lichte, 
then a Colonel serving as the 458th Operations Group Commander, 
deployed and commanded a large KC-10 contingent at an austere Middle 
East location to support Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and RESTORE HOPE.
  By August 1995, then Colonel Arthur J. Lichte became Commander of the 
92nd Air Refueling Wing (ARW) at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, 
WA, which was at the time the largest air refueling wing in the Air 
Force. That year, aircraft from Fairchild flew in support of its first 
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) mission, transporting Russian 
inspectors to sites in the Western U.S. The wing has flown START 
missions in the U.S. every year since. Successful leadership of the 
92nd ARW at Fairchild also led to his promotion to brigadier general.
  Brigadier General Lichte soon after was sent to command the 89th 
Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, which represents the Air Force 
to the American people in meetings with presidents and other world 
dignitaries. In between his successful stint at the 89th Airlift Wing 
and taking command of the Air Mobility Command, General Lichte served 
as AMC's Director of Plans and Programs, USAFE's Vice Commander, and an 
Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
  Notwithstanding an illustrious career with the United States Air 
Force, General Lichte counts his family and 40-year marriage to his 
wife Chris, as well as being a grandfather, as his proudest 
achievements.
  Madam Speaker, General Arthur J. Lichte's selfless dedication to the 
service of his country is honorable and worthy of recognition. I 
believe I can speak for the Airmen of Air Mobility Command and the 
United States Air Force in saying that his dedication has positively 
impacted those with whom he has served during his years with the Air 
Force and I join them in congratulating him on his retirement and a job 
well done.

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