[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7830]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD F. WALSH

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I would be remiss if I did not recognize 
that today's meeting of the Senate Committee on Armed Services to vote 
out its annual Defense authorization bill was the last for Richard F. 
Walsh of my staff. I know Dick's Winnebago is packed and idling outside 
and is probably out of gas because he delayed his retirement to see us 
through mark up, but I want to say a few words before we adjourn.
  I believe in the nobility of public service, and I think Dick 
exemplifies that, not just through his tenure here but throughout his 
entire career. Many may not know that Dick came to the Armed Services 
Committee after a distinguished 30-year career in the Navy, much of it 
as a judge advocate. He served in a number of challenging assignments, 
including counsel to the Chief of Naval Personnel; commander of the 
Naval Legal Service Office, National Capital Region; director of 
legislation in the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs; and executive 
director for Senate affairs under the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Legislative Affairs.
  In 2001, my good friend Senator John Warner hired Dick to handle 
personnel issues. From the halls of the service academies to the bones 
of Tripoli, Dick has seen it all. He has worked on issues of military 
pay, benefits, and education. Some were high profile, others not. Some 
were for the dogs, literally and figuratively. During his tenure, he 
strived to ensure fairness in the military justice system and remained 
vigilant so that military standards continue to reflect the honor of 
military service. I am proud of the work we did together on the GI bill 
to ensure the transferability of military benefits to family members. 
Through it all, he showed himself a consummate professional.
  Our committee works on issues vital to our national security and the 
men and women who protect it. Dick's work in particular over the last 
decade touches our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and their 
families, daily, in very real, very meaningful ways. I know Dick will 
have mixed emotions when he leaves us, but he can take comfort in the 
knowledge that he has made a difference.
  So from one retired Navy officer to another, I wish Dick Walsh and 
his wife Gail fair winds and following seas as they board their 
Winnebago and push off for a well-earned retirement together.

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