[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2043-2044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO COLONEL THEODORE HAROLD LIMPERT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2015

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Colonel 
Theodore Harold Limpert. A native of Central New York and currently a 
resident of Syracuse, New York, Colonel Limpert subsequently has more 
than 30 years of military service with the United States Air Force and 
New York Air National Guard. Colonel Limpert has been decorated with 
numerous medals, awards, and service distinctions and retired from 
military service on 29 June 2012. It is my honor to recognize such a 
distinguished citizen and airman.
  Colonel Limpert began his military career in the New York Air 
National Guard on 24 November 1981, attending the Air National Guard's 
Academy of Military Science, receiving his commission as a Second 
Lieutenant on 24 June 1982. From September 1982 to September 1983, he 
attended undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, 
Oklahoma. From November 1983 to January 1984, Colonel Limpert attended 
Lead Fighter Training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and 
subsequently completed the A-10 Replacement Training Unit at Barksdale 
Air Force Base, Louisiana in May 1984.
  As a traditional guardsman and currently a Syracuse City Court Judge, 
Colonel Limpert became an operational member of the 174th Fighter Wing 
in May 1984 and was assigned the 138th Fighter Squadron. During his 
tenure with the 174th Fighter Wing, as a pilot in the T-38, T-37, A-10, 
and the F-16, Colonel Limpert has accumulated more than 3,100 flight 
hours, with 750 flight hours in the A-10 aircraft, 2,200 flying hours 
in the F-16 aircraft, and has 392 combat flight hours, and holds the 
rating of Command Pilot.
  In 1991, Colonel Limpert deployed to Southwest Asia seven times 
supporting combat operations in Southwest Asia, beginning with 
Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991 at Al Kharj Air Base 
Saudi Arabia, with subsequent deployments in support of Operation 
Provide Comfort in 1995 at Incirlik Air Base Turkey; Operation Southern 
Watch in 2000 at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Operation 
Enduring Freedom in 2003 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar; and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom in 2006 and 2008 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. During the 2006 
deployment to Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2006, Colonel Limpert held dual 
assignments as the 174th Fighter Wing Detachment Commander and 332nd 
Expeditionary Squadron Commander. In addition to his deployments 
supporting combat operations in Southwest Asia, Colonel Limpert also 
flew Combat Air Patrol sorties over New York City in support of 
Operation Noble Eagle after the September 11th terrorist attack on the 
United States.
  Colonel Limpert has held numerous duty assignments throughout his 
military career with the New York Air National Guard. They include: 
Assistant Flight Commander and Flight Commander, 138th Fighter 
Squadron, from May 1989 to July 1996; Combat Air Planner, 152nd Air 
Operations Group, from July 1996 to September 1998; Command Post 
Officer, 174th Fighter Wing from September 1998 to September 1999; F-16 
Pilot, Operations Officer and later Operations Support Flight 
Commander, 174th Operations Support Flight; Commander, 138th Fighter 
Squadron from May 2003 to September 2007; and Deputy Operations Group 
Commander, 174th Fighter Wing from September 2007 to October 2008.
  In his final assignment, Colonel Limpert was assigned to the New York 
Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters as Director of Plans and 
Programs and, Director of the Joint Exercise Control Group. As Director 
of Plans and Programs, he oversaw the five New York State Air Wings 
respective plans offices. The Joint Exercise Control Group ensures 
readiness of state military forces for state contingency operations and 
defense support to civil authorities. Colonel Limpert's joint staff 
team of Air and Army National Guard personnel,

[[Page 2044]]

planned, coordinated and observed table top and large scale civilian 
and military exercises conducted by each of the state's six joint task 
forces. He also volunteered and took on duties as Senior Air Reserve 
Component Advisor to the Commander, United States Air Forces Central 
Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
  During these times and throughout his career, Colonel Limpert has 
displayed honorable character and service to the United States Air 
Force, the New York Air National Guard, and our country. His military 
decorations and unit awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with 
Valor ``V'' device; the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters; the 
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service 
Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal; the 
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Joint 
Meritorious Service Award; the Meritorious Unit Award; and the Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor ``V'' device and seven oak leaf 
clusters.
  Colonel Limpert's military campaign, service awards include the 
Combat Readiness Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters; National Defense 
Service Medal with one bronze service star; Armed Forces Expeditionary 
Medal; Southwest Asia Service medal with three campaign stars; the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star; the Iraq 
Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star; the Global War on 
Terrorism Service Medal; the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon 
with gold boarder and two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Longevity 
Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal 
with gold hourglass device, mobilization ``M'' device, and numeral 
``6''; and the Air Force Training Ribbon. His foreign service awards 
include the Kuwait Liberation Medal with gold palm device from Saudi 
Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from Kuwait.
  Colonel Limpert also holds the following New York State awards and 
decorations: the New York State Long and Faithful Service Award with 
one gold shield device and one silver shield device; the New York State 
Desert Storm Service Medal; the New York State Operation Enduring 
Freedom Ribbon; the New York State Operation Iraqi Freedom Ribbon; the 
New York State Defense of Liberty Medal; the New York State Conspicuous 
Service Cross with one cross device; the Medal for Human Service to New 
York State; the New York State Exercise Support Ribbon; and the New 
York State Physical Fitness Ribbon.
  Colonel Limpert's effective dates of promotion are: Second 
Lieutenant--24 June 1982; First Lieutenant--25 February 1985; Captain--
5 March 1985; Major--1 October 1993; Lieutenant Colonel--February 2000; 
and his current rank of Colonel--4 October 2008.
  Colonel Limpert received a bachelor of science in Biology from 
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in 1981 and juris doctor, 
magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New 
York. He also completed the Squadron Officer School, (Correspondence) 
course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 1993; the Air Command and 
Staff College, (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 
2000; the Air War College, (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, 
Alabama in 2007; and the Advanced Joint Professional Military Education 
Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia in 2009.
  In his civilian capacity, Colonel Limpert is a Syracuse City Court 
Judge. He was appointed to the Bench in November 2009, and elected to a 
ten year term in November 2010. As a City Court Judge, Colonel Limpert 
handles both criminal and civil cases. Prior to becoming a Judge, he 
was in private practice for over 20 years.
  Without question Mr. Speaker, Colonel Limpert is a very special 
person. He willingly served his nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For 
his unrelenting service, Colonel Limpert can retire knowing he has 
earned such a status. I would like to wish him well in his retirement 
years, as he will now be able to spend more free time with his wife 
Susan, his daughter Elizabeth, and his sons Harold, Nikolas and Tyler. 
Colonel Limpert, thank you for all your years of hard work, dedication 
and service to our country.

                          ____________________