[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19921-19922]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MAJOR MICHAEL J. RIGNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2015

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major 
Michael J. Rigney for his dedication to duty and service as a Defense 
Legislative Fellow to my late respected colleague Chairman C.W. Bill 
Young of the 13th Congressional district of Florida, as well as his 
support from within the Pentagon as an Army Congressional Budget 
Liaison. Major Rigney will be transitioning from his present assignment 
to serve as an Acquisition Officer at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
  A native of Long Island, New York, Major Rigney was accepted into the 
Hofstra University Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2000, 
where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and 
graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate with the class of 2004. 
Upon graduation, Mike was commissioned as an Army Aviation Branch 
Officer. He has subsequently earned a Master's degree in Legislative 
Affairs from the George Washington University.
  Prior to entering the Army Congressional Fellowship Program, Mike 
served in numerous tactical leadership and staff assignments as an Army 
Aviation Branch Officer, and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter Pilot. Major 
Rigney's assignments include Flight School Student, United States Army 
Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Flight Platoon 
Leader, 4th Battalion 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault), 3rd Combat 
Aviation Brigade, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, and Baghdad, Iraq; 
Aviation Brigade Future Plans and Operations Officer, 3rd Combat 
Aviation Brigade, Baghdad, Iraq; Commander, Bravo Company, 4th 
Battalion 3rd Aviation Regiment (Task Force Brawler), 3rd Combat 
Aviation Brigade, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, and Logar Province, 
Afghanistan; Student, Army Aviation Captain's Career Course, Army 
Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Alabama. Major Rigney was 
deployed for 16 months in direct support of combat operations as part 
of the surge in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007-2008, and then again for 12 
months as part of the surge in Afghanistan, Regional Command--East, in 
2009-2010. While deployed, Mike accumulated over 933 hours of combat 
flight time in direct support of Soldiers in the fight of his nearly 
1,300 hours of total military piloting experience.
  In 2013, Michael was selected to be an Army Congressional Fellow for 
a year, working in Chairman Young's personal office on Capitol Hill and 
very closely with the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on 
Defense. Next, in his role as a Congressional

[[Page 19922]]

Budget Liaison, working with both the House and Senate Appropriations 
Committees, Michael ensured the Army's budget positions were well 
represented and articulated. Michael was instrumental in ensuring that 
Congress was informed of the importance of key Army acquisition 
programs for the future fighting force.
  Mike's interagency coordination and diligent work proved invaluable 
in assisting Members of Congress and their staff complete the important 
work of Congressional oversight in support of National Defense and 
United States foreign policy.
  Throughout his career, Major Rigney has positively impacted his 
soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has been enriched by his 
extraordinary leadership, thoughtful judgment, and exemplary work. I 
join my colleagues today in honoring his dedication to our Nation and 
invaluable service to the United States Congress as an Army 
Congressional Budget Liaison.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with Major 
Michael Rigney over the last three years. On behalf of a grateful 
nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending 
Michael for his service to his country and we wish him, his wife 
Jennifer, and sons, Jackson and Luca, all the best as they continue 
their journey in the United States Army.

                          ____________________