[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO VIVIAN SMITH-TALLAN

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 
achievements of Ms. Vivian E. ``Bo'' Smith-Tallan. During her years of 
service, Ms. Smith demonstrated tireless dedication to her country, and 
specifically to Fairchild Air Force Base and the greater Spokane area.
  Ms. Smith-Tallan, who hails from Maryland, entered the Air Force in 
1976 directly out of high school. She retired from the Air Force as a 
master sergeant after serving for 20 years on active duty. Ms. Smith-
Tallan completed a degree in law enforcement and is a graduate of the 
Spokane County Police Academy. Prior to her present position, she was a 
police officer with the Medical Lake Police Department and bailiff for 
the Airway Heights courts system.
  While on Active Duty in the law enforcement career field, Ms. Smith-
Tallan served in numerous capacities including gate guard, patrolman, 
investigator, pass and registration noncommissioned officer in charge, 
and flight chief. Her talent earned her a selection as the first female 
motorcycle patrolman. In 1992 she was assigned as the treaty compliance 
superintendent and finalized Fairchild Air Force Base's role under the 
START Treaty in which B-52s were removed from assignment to the base. 
From there she was assigned as the wing protocol superintendent until 
her retirement from Active Duty in 1996.
  Ms. Smith-Tallan then began serving at Fairchild Air Force Base as a 
Department of Defense civilian. Through the following 18 years she led 
an office of 12 airmen as the wing chief of protocol and public 
relations, consistently ensuring that Fairchild presented a welcoming 
and professional environment to visitors and the local community.
  As chief of protocol she planned, evaluated, and led the 
arrangements, protocol and coordination for dignitaries visiting the 
wing. She developed and executed itineraries compatible with the scope 
of the visit, to include social events, ceremonies, briefings, lodging, 
transportation, courtesy and office calls, and tours. She planned and 
supervised countless renderings of honors, awards, promotions, 
retirements, change of command ceremonies, dining outs, airshows, 
intra-service competitions, parades, and other recognitions.
  As chief of public relations, Ms. Smith-Tallan planned, organized and 
directed the activities of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs 
office to provide installation-level multimedia activities composed of 
media, community relations, photography and videography. She developed 
the community relations program and ran the Honorary Commanders and 
Eagles program to ensure continual outreach of installation commanders 
with civic leaders. Ms. Smith-Tallan also served as the wing foreign 
disclosure officer.
  Ms. Smith-Tallan consistently goes above and beyond, as exemplified 
by her multiple Civilian of the Year and Civilian of the Quarter 
awards, an Exemplary Civilian Service Award, and many more awards she 
received while serving on Active Duty. Her record of achievement would 
not have been possible without the love and support of her husband, 
Robert ``Bob'' Tallan. We thank her family for sharing her with us. Mr. 
President, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me 
in congratulating Ms. Smith-Tallan on her 38 years of outstanding 
service. For her commitment to the people of Fairchild Air Force Base 
and the greater Spokane area, she is worthy of the highest 
praise.

                          ____________________