[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 956]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING LT. COLONEL ALLEN KIRKSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUBEN GALLEGO

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 21, 2015

  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, as he begins the transition to civilian 
life, I rise today to salute Lieutenant Colonel Allen Kirksey for his 
distinguished military career and years of dedicated service to our 
nation.
  Lt. Colonel Kirksey most recently served as the Wing Chief of Staff 
in Phoenix, Arizona, a position he has held since June of 2013. He 
began his military career in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 
1983, during which time he completed two operational assignments with 
the 92nd Bomb Wing and the 435th Tactical Air Wing. He enlisted in the 
Arizona Air National Guard in 1984 as a drill status guardsman Combat 
Crew Communications Specialist. In 1998, he assumed command of the 
161st Security Forces Squadron. Lt. Colonel Kirksey has deployed as the 
Wing Senior Intelligence Officer in support of Operation Desert Shield, 
Deny Flight, Phoenix Scorpion, and Southern Watch.
  In 2001, as the Security Forces Commander, he was mobilized in 
support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and was 
designated as the 201st Mission Support Squadron Detachment Commander. 
In 2005, he served as the 161st Deputy Mission Support Commander, and 
in 2006 he assumed command of the 161st Logistics Readiness Squadron. 
In 2010, as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, he was 
mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring 
Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
  Throughout his years of service, Lt. Col. Kirksey has won numerous 
awards and distinctions, including the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service 
Medal, twice. In addition, he was named the Arizona National Guard 
Diversity Champion in 2008 and the National Guard Diversity Award 
Winner--Air National Guard Individual Category in 2011.
  Incredibly, on top of his outstanding service in uniform, Lt. Colonel 
Kirksey also volunteers over 100 hours each year at Phoenix-area 
schools and is a motivational speaker in the community. In 2014, he was 
awarded the City of Phoenix Calvin Goode Lifetime Achievement award in 
recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication to civil 
rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Allen 
Kirksey and thank him for his many years of exceptional service.

                          ____________________