[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          MAJOR RICHARD RUSNOK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor United States Marine Corps 
Major Richard Rusnok, who has been named the Marine Corps Test Pilot of 
the Year by the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) John Glenn 
Squadron. Major Rusnock, a native of Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania, 
dreamed of becoming a pilot when he was younger. A graduate of Pittston 
Area High School, he was the second test pilot to perform a vertical 
landing on the flight deck of the USS Wasp. Currently, Major Rusnok is 
with the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River 
in Maryland.
  Major Rusnok was selected test pilot of the year for his role in the 
successful embarkation and deployment of more than 250 people and 
140,000 pounds of supplies and equipment with two F-35B test aircraft 
on USS Wasp's flight deck. Major Rusnok was the focal point for an 
extremely complex event, and the amount of thought and planning he 
demonstrated was commended by Navy Captain Erik Etz, military director 
of test and evaluation for F-35 naval variants.
  Major Rusnok has shown his dedication to the U.S Marine Corps in 
countless ways. He played a major role in making naval aviation history 
in the Joint Strike Fighter program, and he flew a number of combat 
missions in the Iraq War. In 2003, he participated in the initial 
invasion of Iraq and flew numerous missions over a seven-month period.
  This year, he will transition to Edwards Air Force Base, California, 
where operational testing on the F-35B will begin. As Test Pilot of the 
Year, he will be considered for the National Commandant of the Marine 
Corps' Award for Acquisition Excellence, which will be announced in 
May.
  Mr. Speaker, today, Major Richard Rusnok stands as a pillar in the 
U.S. Marine Corps. I commend him for his years of dedicated service to 
the Marines, the community, and the country.

                          ____________________