[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14606]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL MICHAEL G. MULLEN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to pay 
tribute to ADM Michael Mullen, a man who served our country with 
distinction for 43 years.
  During his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has 
presided over the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the historic repeal of 
the don't ask, don't tell policy, the successful operation against 
Osama bin Laden, and an episode of unprecedented change in the Middle 
East. He has been tireless in his job, having visited our troops in 
Iraq and Afghanistan so many times that we have lost count. Moreover, 
his tenure as Chairman has been noteworthy for the amount of time he 
has spent with our troops on the front lines of war.
  Before becoming Chairman, Admiral Mullen served as the Navy's Chief 
and Vice Chief of Naval Operations, as the Commander of U.S. Naval 
Forces in Europe, and as the Commander of the Allied Joint Force 
Command in Naples, Italy. Over the course of his career, Admiral Mullen 
has served aboard seven warships, three times as the commanding 
officer. In the U.S. Navy's history, he is only the third naval officer 
ever to be appointed to four different four-star assignments. He is 
also one of the few remaining veterans of the Vietnam War serving in 
the top ranks of our military.
  When the Vermont National Guard's 1-86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team 
deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, Admiral Mullen traveled to Vermont to 
visit the troops at one of their departure ceremonies. On a cold 
January morning, joined by his wife Deborah, he spoke to a hall packed 
with families and friends seeing their soldiers off to war. He thanked 
them for their service to our Nation, and he assured them all--the 
troops and their families--that they had the full support of our 
country's highest ranking military officer. It was a great comfort to 
the Guard, and they will not forget his expression of support. Neither 
will I.
  In fact, Admiral Mullen and his wife, Deborah, have dedicated much of 
their time to advancing a range of initiatives to support troops and 
their families. These include wounded warrior care, veteran employment 
and education, survivor benefits, suicide prevention, and mental 
health. Again, these efforts speak to the type of man and leader 
Admiral Mullen is and to his commitment to our men and women in 
uniform.
  I wish Mike and Deborah all the best. He departs the U.S. military 
with the sincere thanks of a grateful nation. I know that I have 
benefitted from his wise counsel over the years. America is fortunate 
to have such a leader.

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