[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL STEVE STROBRIDGE

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel 
Steve Strobridge, USAF, Retired, in recognition of his distinguished 
service to his country.
  For nearly 44 years, first for 24 years in the Air Force, and 
concluding with 19 years with the Military Officers Association of 
America, Colonel Strobridge has worked tirelessly for the men and women 
of the military, their families, veterans and their survivors.
  Raised in Vergennes, VT, Colonel Strobridge entered the United States 
Air Force in 1969 as a second lieutenant following graduation from ROTC 
at Syracuse University.
  After several assignments as a personnel officer and commander in 
Texas, Thailand, and North Carolina, he was assigned to the Pentagon 
from 1977 to 1981 as a compensation and legislation analyst at 
Headquarters USAF. Following assignments as Chief, Officer Assignments 
and Assistant for Senior Officer Management at HQ, U.S. Air Forces in 
Europe, he was selected to attend the National War College at Fort 
McNair in 1985.
  Colonel Strobridge served as Deputy Director and then as Director, 
Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management in the Office of the 
Secretary of Defense from 1986-1989. In this position, he was 
responsible for establishing Department of Defense policy on military 
personnel promotions, utilization, retention, separation, and 
retirement. In June 1989, he returned to Headquarters USAF as Chief of 
the Entitlements Division, assuming responsibility for Air Force policy 
on all matters involving pay and entitlements, including military 
retirement system and survivor benefits, and all legislative matters 
affecting active and retired military members and their families.
  Following his retirement from the Air Force in January 1994, Colonel 
Strobridge joined the Retired Officers Association of America and 
served as Deputy Director and since 2001 he has served as Director of 
Government Relations for the Military Officers Association of America, 
MOAA.
  Under Colonel Strobridge's professional stewardship, MOAA has played 
a vital role as a principal advocate of legislative initiatives to 
improve readiness and the quality of life for all members of the 
uniformed service community--active, reserve, and retired, as well as 
their families.
  Defense News noted recently that ``no major [military] personnel-
related legislation has been enacted since 1994 without Colonel 
Strobridge's imprint.''
  Colonel Strobridge has worked closely with, and has been a valuable 
resource for, the U.S. Senate and the Senate Armed Services Committee 
in particular as we enacted a wide range of benefit improvements for 
our military personnel. He provided input or support for legislative 
proposals on a wide range of issues, including TRICARE for Life; the 
elimination of VA disability pay offsets to military retired pay for 
many retirees; restoration of full cost of living adjustments to 
retired pay; elimination of the offset to survivor annuities by Social 
Security payments; TRICARE benefits for reserve families; and many 
other initiatives that have been invaluable in improving the long-term 
retention in our Armed Forces.
  Colonel Strobridge's long and distinguished career of leadership and 
personal dedication to fostering readiness by protecting every 
servicemember's welfare is an inspiration and a continuing lesson to 
all who care about the men and women of our military. My best wishes go 
with him and his family.
  Colonel Strobridge, on the occasion of your retirement as Director of 
Government Relations for the Military Officers Association of America, 
I salute you on behalf of all the men and women, past and present, who 
wear the uniform.

                          ____________________