[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1288-1289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS CUTLER

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, for the past 8 years, MG Thomas Cutler has 
been the leader of the Michigan National Guard. It has been my 
privilege to work closely with him in his efforts to keep the Guard 
prepared for its missions at home and abroad. The people of Michigan 
have benefitted greatly from his tireless efforts, and Americans and 
people around the world have enjoyed the benefits of his leadership of 
the men and women of the Michigan Guard who have served far from home.
  General Cutler came to his position with extensive knowledge of the 
full spectrum of the National Guard's operations, having served in 
command positions in Battle Creek, Alpena and at Selfridge Air National 
Guard Base, working not only with Air National Guard personnel but in 
joint operations as well.
  Over his 8 years, he was an extraordinary advocate for improvements 
to the State's military infrastructure, improvements that made 
Michigan's people safer, served units from other States that use 
Michigan facilities for training, and contributed greatly to the 
welfare of Guard members and their families. The list of ribbons we 
have cut and of ground we have broken to modernize Michigan Guard 
facilities is extensive, and the result is some of the most modern 
facilities in the nation.
  He also skillfully led Michigan through the implementation of the 
2005 round of base realignments and closures, helping to ensure that 
Michigan would maintain flying missions at two Air Guard bases and that 
the Michigan Guard could continue to effectively fulfill its missions.
  General Cutler has continually sought new opportunities for the men 
and women under his command. Most notably among these is the Michigan 
National Guard's engagement with the armed forces of Latvia and now 
Liberia through the State Partnership Program. This program uses the 
civil and military skills of the National Guard to aid the development 
of partner nation militaries while providing Guard personnel with 
unique opportunities to interact and build relationships with other 
militaries. Most important, General Cutler has focused on the people of 
the Michigan National Guard--on its servicemembers and their families. 
He has brought to his job a keen understanding of the challenges our 
citizen-soldiers and airmen face, and the sacrifices of their families 
and communities.

[[Page 1289]]

  On January 8, General Cutler left his position as adjutant general of 
the Michigan National Guard. I salute General Cutler for his service to 
Michigan and the Nation. The men and women of the Michigan National 
Guard, who have so benefitted from his passion for the Guard, will long 
remember his service, and I shall look back on the many times we have 
been together as some of my best memories.

                          ____________________