[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13845-13846]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO GENERAL GORDON SULLIVAN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, earlier this summer, GEN Gordon Sullivan, a 
man who has dedicated his life to caring for and developing world-class 
leaders, retired from his role as chairman of the Norwich University 
Board of Trustees, a position he held for 13 years. At the same time, 
he retired from his role as president of the Association of the United 
States Army, a post he held for 18 years.
  General Sullivan's lifetime of service began in 1959, when he earned 
his degree in political science from Norwich University and assumed a 
commission in the Army as a second lieutenant of armor. Like so many 
from this prestigious Vermont institution, he went on to excel among 
his peers. He completed two distinguished tours in Vietnam, earning the 
Purple Heart. General Sullivan could have justifiably concluded his 
military service then, and his contributions to that point would have 
been impressive, but he

[[Page 13846]]

continued to serve, and in clear recognition of his tireless devotion 
to soldiers, he was eventually appointed as the Army's top officer.
  As the 32nd Army Chief of Staff, General Sullivan directed a post-
Cold War downsizing that spanned the administrations of two U.S. 
Presidents. These transitional years saw unprecedented reorganization 
within the Department, occurring amid ongoing, complex global 
peacekeeping operations. By continuing to prioritize the men and women 
he was tasked with leading, General Sullivan navigated this critical 
era with a skill and tact that few can match. In 1995, he retired from 
the Army to begin a new chapter.
  In 1998, General Sullivan began his tenure as president of the 
Association of the United States Army, AUSA, the Nation's largest Army-
oriented, nonprofit organization. As president of the association, he 
was known for focusing efforts on improving conditions for soldiers and 
their families. General Sullivan served as head of AUSA while 
maintaining close ties to Norwich University, and that connection was 
further solidified in 2003 when he became chairman of the Norwich 
University Board of Trustees.
  As chairman of the board, he directed and supervised countless 
improvements to the university, while always adhering to Norwich's core 
values. During his 13 years leading the board, General Sullivan 
assisted with the meticulous design of the school's 2019 plan. His 
influence helped bring about some of the most significant improvements 
in Norwich's history, including the expansion of student housing, 
academic resources, and athletic facilities. Perhaps most notably, he 
played an integral role in building the school's reputation as an 
internationally known center for education in cyber security. Like 
Norwich's founder, Captain Alden Partridge, General Sullivan has 
contributed to Vermont and our Nation's academic prosperity in so many 
ways.
  I would like to recognize GEN Gordon Sullivan for his contributions 
to Norwich University, the Army, and the Nation as a whole. It gives me 
great pride to know that General Sullivan benefited so strongly from a 
Vermont-based education, and I know that our State has benefited from a 
longtime relationship with him. I am confident that General Sullivan's 
contributions will continue, and I wish him well as he further expands 
his already proud and accomplished legacy.

                          ____________________