[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5811]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                 TRIBUTE TO COLONEL DOUGLAS J. SCHWARTZ

  Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and honor the 
extraordinary service of Col. Douglas J. Schwartz, 434th Air Refueling 
Wing commander, and to wish him well upon his retirement. A dedicated 
and loyal public servant, Colonel Schwartz has served the people of 
Indiana and the United States in the U.S. Air Force for approximately 
35 years. A command pilot, Colonel Schwartz has more than 4,200 flying 
hours, and his service includes deployments in support of U.S. military 
efforts in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
  A native of Fort Wayne, IN, Colonel Schwartz graduated from Purdue 
University and received his commission through the Air Force Officer 
Training School in 1981. Shortly thereafter, he entered pilot training 
at Williams Air Force Base, AZ, and was assigned to the 325th Bomb 
Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, WA. He transferred to the Air 
Force Reserve in 1992 and flew KC-135R Stratotankers with the 72nd Air 
Refueling Squadron at Grissom. From October 1992 until March 2007, he 
held numerous command and leadership assignments at Grissom, including 
assistant chief pilot, chief of standardization and evaluation, 
operations officer, flight commander, and detachment commander. Colonel 
Schwartz has also served as detachment commander and operations group 
commander of the 927th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, 
FL; vice commander of the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, 
IL; director of staff for the 4th Air Force; and wing commander of the 
927th Air Refueling Wing at McDill Airforce Base, FL, before returning 
to Grissom to assume command of the 434th Air Refueling Wing in June 
2014.
  Under the leadership of Colonel Schwartz, Grissom is home to one of 
our Nation's finest Air Force units with the dedicated men and women of 
the 434th Air Refueling Wing and the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit 
in the Air Force Reserve Command. Colonel Schwartz has helped Grissom 
play a large and growing role in our national defense, and he has 
worked to ensure the Air Force recognizes the tremendous asset we have 
in Indiana.
  We thank Colonel Schwartz for his service, dedication, and commitment 
to protecting Hoosiers and our Nation. Indiana has a long and proud 
tradition of serving our country, and Colonel Schwartz's leadership has 
played a critical role in ensuring that our brave men and women at the 
434th Refueling Wing have the training and support they need. On behalf 
of all Hoosiers, I wish Colonel Schwartz and his wife, Ann, the best in 
the years ahead.

                          ____________________