[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 472]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO GARY D. REESE

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, every so often, it is my honor as the 
chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to recognize the 
outstanding contributions of members of the Senate family. As anyone 
who has spent a few years in Washington will know, public service may 
not be the career of choice for those who hope to be appreciated in 
their own time.
  Benjamin Franklin recognized this back in 1772, when he wrote:

       We must not in the course of public life expect immediate 
     approbation and immediate grateful acknowledgement of our 
     services. But let us persevere through abuse and even injury. 
     The internal satisfaction of a good conscience is always 
     present, and time will do us justice in the minds of the 
     people . . .

  Mr. President, through his 20 years of service in the U.S. Senate, 
Gary Reese is an exception to Mr. Franklin's rule. His charm, his 
expertise, and his professionalism have earned Gary the respect and 
appreciation of Senators, leaders in the executive branch, and his 
colleagues.
  Gary's service in the Senate began in 1987, when he joined the staff 
of Senator Bennett Johnston as a legislative assistant for military 
issues. In 6 years of service, Gary demonstrated a great ability to get 
results for the State of Louisiana and distinguished himself by 
developing a thorough understanding of the shipbuilding industry. Gary 
then moved to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 1993, 
where he developed expertise in some of the most technical and 
important aspects of our national security.
  The Committee on Appropriations was extremely fortunate to lure Gary 
away from that prestigious committee in January 1997. As a professional 
staff member on the Subcommittee on Defense, Gary excelled in oversight 
of acquisition programs in each of the military services, as well as 
classified matters. Gary departed the Senate in 2002, at which time his 
accomplishments were recognized by the Department of the Navy with the 
Meritorious Public Service Award and by the National Reconnaissance 
Office with the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service.
  After 5 years with General Electric, Gary once again answered the 
call to public service. He rejoined the Committee on Appropriations in 
2007, where he has applied his skills to the most challenging 
intelligence issues that our country has faced in Iraq, Afghanistan, 
the Horn of Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. His vision and ingenuity have 
made substantial contributions to our policies and operations in those 
regions, for which I hope the full story may someday be told.
  Listing Gary Reese's accomplishments during his two decades of 
service to the U.S. Senate tells only a small part of his story. In an 
era of partisanship and divisiveness, Gary served both Democrats and 
Republicans with skill and dedication. I feel just as fortunate to have 
had Gary's assistance as my friend and former colleague, Ted Stevens, 
surely did.
  In a capital city filled with bluster and ego, Gary's charm, humor, 
and integrity built trusted relationships in many corners of the 
Congress, the executive branch, and industry.
  In a job where long hours and late nights can overwhelm even the most 
industrious public servant, Gary has never forgotten his dedication and 
commitment to his wife Ann, their son Bob, and their daughter Trish.
  Mr. President, on behalf of myself and all the staff of the Committee 
on Appropriations, I wish to offer Gary and his family my appreciation 
for his 20 years of service to the Senate, and I wish him all the best 
on his future endeavors.

                          ____________________