[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 15051]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      PROMOTION OF ROBERT HERBERT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
congratulate Bob Herbert on his recent promotion to Brigadier General 
in the United States Army National Guard. Today I had the honor to 
preside over his promotion ceremony in the Mansfield Room. Bob has been 
a loyal member of my staff for the past 14 years. But he had also given 
38 years of loyal military service to Nevada and our Nation.
  Bob Herbert grew up the son of a military man, retired MSG Robert W. 
Herbert. From an early age Bob had a great fascination with military 
aviation. Before he graduated from high school in Slinger, WI, Bob 
joined the Army to fly in a unique program known as ``High School to 
Flight School.'' Once he completed flight school, Bob was posted in 
Germany, where he flew patrols along the borders between East and West 
Germany during the Cold War era. After a successful 3-year tour in 
Germany, Bob completed his undergraduate work at Embry-Riddle 
Aeronautical University. Shortly after graduation, he attended test 
pilot school and earned the title of Army test pilot.
  As a test pilot, he flew both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, 
including helicopters, which we all know are important to both modern 
military missions and for fighting fires and responding to emergencies 
in the civilian world.
  After 6 years of active duty with the Army, Bob moved to Reno, where 
he transitioned to the Nevada Army National Guard. As a member of the 
Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I had the opportunity to meet with 
Bob Herbert about the needs of the Nevada Guard. I quickly found that 
Bob was not only an outstanding military officer but was excellent with 
numbers and figures surrounding the Military's budget and equipment.
  At my request, Bob arranged to come to Washington where he worked as 
a fellow with the Brookings Institution. During that time, he was 
assigned to me, and worked closely with my staff on Nevada military 
issues as well as national defense policy and appropriations. During 
his time as a fellow, Bob was promoted by the military and I had the 
privilege of pinning Bob with his Lieutenant Colonel insignia.
  When his fellowship concluded, I asked Bob to join my staff here in 
Washington, D.C. Bob had become an important part of my office and his 
expertise would have been hard to replace. Over the years I have grown 
to depend on his judgment and advice, not just about military matters 
but about many other issues. He has always made sound decisions and is 
able to bring simple common sense to complex issues.
  I was pleased when Bob decided to work for me full time on military 
and veterans' affairs, as well as transportation and technology issues. 
Throughout his time on my staff, Bob has also remained committed to the 
Army and continued to serve his National Guard unit in Nevada. While 
working full-time on my staff, Bob earned a master's degree in public 
administration from George Washington University, my alma mater.
  After working in Washington D.C. for 4 years, I asked Bob to return 
to Nevada to work in one of my district offices. Bob had a nice home in 
Reno and I think he was excited to return to his house and his 
motorcycle. Little did he know, I needed him to work out of my Las 
Vegas office. But Bob never flinched and moved from Reno to Las Vegas.
  After my elevation to the position of Democratic Leader, I once again 
asked Bob to return to Washington to help with my defense and military 
portfolio. I know that Bob was disappointed to leave Nevada, but he has 
more than made up for that disappointment by purchasing three 
additional motorcycles while working here in Washington, for a total of 
four motorcycles. His most recent motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson 
custom softail. Like a good parent he ensures that he spends quality 
time with each bike and enjoys riding nearly every weekend on the 
backroads of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. He ultimately 
plans to have one BMW and one Harley-Davidson on each coast to optimize 
his motorcycle adventures.
  For almost 38 years, Brigadier General Herbert has honorably served 
our Nation in the enlisted, warrant officer, and officer ranks. As 
Brigadier General he is currently assigned as the Assistant to the 
Adjutant General for the Nevada Army National Guard. And he has flown 
more than 7,000 hours as a pilot, splitting time between helicopters 
and fixed-wing aircraft.
  I am very so grateful for Bob's service--for his service to his 
country, to the state of Nevada and to me. I appreciate his loyalty so 
much. Congratulations, General Herbert, on this well-deserved 
promotion.

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