[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL STEVE GRAY, RETIRED

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to take a few moments to honor a 
true champion of veterans, retired Lt. Col. Steve Gray, who is set to 
retire from public service at the end of this month after nearly 16 
years of helping his fellow veterans in Arkansas.
  Since I came to Washington 13 years ago, Steve has served on my staff 
advocating for the needs of servicemembers and veterans across the 
Nation.
  He has been a trusted aide whose reputation in Arkansas's veterans 
community is second to none. His passion and advocacy has resulted in 
better service offerings at veterans facilities across Arkansas. It is 
reflected in the lives that he has helped make better by solving an 
individual's problems at the VA.
  If Steve was able to track down military medals a veteran earned but 
never received, those medals weren't just dropped in the mail. Steve 
would crisscross the State, personally delivering them, dressed in his 
Air Force blues, and present them with the stories of the veteran's 
time in service.
  A veteran himself, Steve served honorably in the Air Force as a 
tactical air controller, with assignments as director of operations and 
commander in Virginia, Vietnam, California, Utah, Florida, Colorado, 
Kansas, and Iceland.
  He also served as national director for the National Guard 
recruiting, retention, and advertising at the Pentagon. His final 
assignment before retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel was in 
Germany where he served as an adviser to the commander and chief of the 
Air Force in Europe.
  Along with the work he does in an official capacity, Steve is active 
in a number of veterans service organizations, including the American 
Legion and the Wounded Warrior Program.
  He has served as vice president of the Arkansas Council of Military 
Officers Association of America.
  I am excited for Steve as he embarks on the next chapter of his life, 
but we are losing a fantastic advocate for Arkansas veterans. However, 
I know that my staff will continue to provide the best possible service 
to Arkansas's veterans as we have the blueprint on how to do it right, 
thanks to Steve. He has literally set the gold standard on how to 
deliver for veterans.
  I know also that in retirement Steve does not mean to fade from 
sight. Steve is not the slowing-down type of personality. Certainly he 
will take some time to travel with his wife Sharon in their retired 
life. But along with the relaxation, Steve has grand plans to travel 
the country singing at veterans retirement homes, and he intends to 
stay active with the Arkansas Veterans Coalition. This is his calling, 
his passion, and I am quite certain Steve will continue to work with 
the veterans community for years to come.
  Thank you, Steve, for your service in uniform, your dedication to 
your fellow veterans, and most of all thank you for your friendship.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Rounds). The senior Senator from South 
Dakota.

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