[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO COLONEL PAUL W. ``PK'' KIRBY

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, on the occasion of his retirement 
from the U.S. Air Force, I recognize Col. Paul W. ``PK'' Kirby for his 
more than 41 years of dedicated service to our country. In his most 
recent assignment, he serves as the Vice Commander, Air Force Reserve 
Command Recruiting Service and Deputy Director of Recruiting, Air Force 
Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, GA. In this role, he exercises 
command and oversight of over 450 military and civilian personnel 
worldwide at over 45 main operating locations and serves as the 
principle adviser to the both the commander of recruiting and AFRC 
commander on all matters relating to recruiting.
  Colonel Kirby enlisted in the Air Force in May 1973 and served 13 
years prior to receiving his commission through the Deserving Airman 
Commissioning Program. Prior to entering recruiting services, Colonel 
Kirby served as a key member of the personnel community and served as 
Commander of the 302nd Combat Support Squadron for 36 years on active 
duty, as a civilian and within the Air Force Reserve Command as a 
Traditional Reservist and Air Reserve Technician. During this time, he 
developed and implemented key policies and procedures for Reserve 
Officer Personnel Management Act, Officer Development, Innovative 
Readiness Training Program, and Centralized Training, thereby enhancing 
overall combat readiness for the command.
  As Vice Commander of Air Force Reserve Recruiting, Colonel Kirby has 
developed and executed numerous initiatives resulting in the Air Force 
Reserve Command, AFRC, exceeding its annual recruiting goal for 8 
consecutive years. As the second largest Air Force Major Command, AFRC 
has been manned at greater than 99 percent for the past 8 consecutive 
years, reversing a decade-long trend of failing to meet congressionally 
mandated end-strength levels. He is directly responsible for accessing 
more than 58,000 airmen helping to transform the Air Force Reserve 
recruiters into the most productive within the Department of Defense.
  Paul could not have been such a tremendous leader without the love 
and unfailing support of his lovely wife of 39 years, Wanda, and their 
three children, Jeremy, Rebekah, and Christopher.
  I join my colleagues in expressing our sincere appreciation to Col. 
Paul W. Kirby for his outstanding service to both the U.S. Air Force 
and our great Nation. We wish him the best as he transitions into 
retirement. Colonel Kirby is a true professional and a credit to 
himself and the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

                          ____________________