[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6911]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RETIREMENT OF AIR FORCE SECRETARY MICHAEL DONLEY

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I honor an outstanding leader and 
public servant. After over 30 years of service to our Nation both in 
and out of uniform, Secretary Michael Donley is retiring from his 
current position as Secretary of the U.S. Air Force. On this occasion, 
I believe it is fitting to recognize Secretary Donley's years of 
service to our great Nation.
  Mr. Donley has over 30 years of experience in the national security 
community, including service in the Senate, White House, and the 
Pentagon, as well as in the private sector. Mr. Donley served in the 
U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975 with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps and 5th 
Special Forces Group, Airborne. He was also a professional staff member 
on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
  Mr. Donley supported two Presidents and five National Security 
Advisers during his service at the National Security Council from 1984 
to 1989. He conceived and organized the President's Blue Ribbon 
Commission on Defense Management, coordinated White House policy on the 
Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization Act of 1986, and wrote the 
national security strategy for President Reagan's second term. Prior to 
assuming his current position, Mr. Donley served as the Director of 
Administration and Management in the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense.
  Air Force Secretary Michael Donley will retire from public service 
June 21, after nearly 5 years in the position. Prior to his 
confirmation as the Secretary of the Air Force, he served as Acting 
Secretary--making him the longest serving Secretary of the Air Force in 
the service's history.
  Secretary Michael Donley's leadership will be missed throughout the 
government. I join many past and present members of the Senate Armed 
Services Committee in my gratitude to Secretary Donley for his 
outstanding leadership and his unwavering support of servicemembers. 
Secretary Donley's service has enabled the Air Force to continue to 
fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace. I wish him fair 
winds and following seas.

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