[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF GENERAL C. ROBERT KEHLER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2013

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today, Mr. Cooper and I ask for 
the House's attention to honor General C. Robert ``Bob'' Kehler, 
Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, on his imminent retirement from 
the United States Air Force.
  General Kehler has been an exemplary officer and an outstanding 
leader. Over the course of his 38 year career in the Air Force, he has 
made countless sacrifices for our country. We wish to commend his 
service; the sacrifices of his family, including his wife Marjorie and 
their two sons; and to express our great appreciation for his 
leadership and devotion to our nation's security.
  It would not be possible for us to do justice to the many and various 
accomplishments of General Kehler's distinguished 38 year career in the 
Air Force, but please allow us to highlight a few.
  General Kehler's selection as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command was 
apt--he started his career as a young nuclear missile officer in 1975. 
Rising quickly through the Air Force, he went on to command space and 
missile units at Whiteman, Malmstrom, Vandenberg and Peterson Air Force 
Bases. His positive leadership has directly influenced countless men 
and women in our Armed Forces, and the positive effects of his service 
to our country will be felt for generations to come.
  General Kehler has been a vigilant champion of our nation's nuclear 
deterrent. As Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, he's spent nearly 
three years ensuring our nation's nuclear forces remain strong and 
ready--not counting his earlier tour as Deputy Commander of Strategic 
Command. His efforts were instrumental in our nation's Nuclear Posture 
Review, and he has worked closely with Congress to ensure that our 
military has been able to accomplish the essential missions of 
Strategic Command, including nuclear deterrence. Through his leadership 
at Strategic Command, General Kehler has been an essential defender of 
our nation's critical space assets. He has worked closely with the 
Armed Services Committee, and it has been our great pleasure to work 
with him. As chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces, we are grateful for General Kehler's wise counsel and 
firm resolve to always do what is best for the nation and for the men 
and women he leads.
  Mr. Speaker, with nearly four decades of exemplary service to our 
nation, General C. Robert ``Bob'' Kehler deserves our most heartfelt 
gratitude and praise. He has been a credit to the military and we hope 
he will continue to find ways to serve the United States. Thank you, 
General--and best wishes to you and your family.

                          ____________________