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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL JEFFREY SMITH
______
HON. GREG WALDEN
of oregon
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend Colonel Jeffrey S.
Smith, United States Air Force, for his outstanding devotion and
selfless service to the United States of America. Colonel Smith will
retire on June 01, 2019, from his present assignment as the Commander
of the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Colonel Smith entered the United States Air Force Academy in 1991 and
became a proud graduate in 1995. His first mission took him halfway
around the world to Kadena Air Base in Japan, and then Elmendorf Air
Force Base in Alaska. During his time in Japan and Alaska, Colonel
Smith engaged in Operations Southern and Northern Watch in Iraq and
kept the skies safe in the aftermath of regional conflicts. In 2002,
after Colonel Smith attended United States Air Force Weapons School at
Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, he was deployed to Incirlik Air Base
in Turkey to help the United States prepare for a pivotal mission to
root out terror from this world: Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003, he
executed the mission to equip the next generation of fighter pilots
with the skills and knowledge needed to defend our great nation in the
skies. This mission brought Colonel Smith back to Nellis Air Force
Base, where he served as an F-15 instructor at the United States Air
Force Weapons School, as the 57th Wing Weapons Officer. In 2005, he
made his way to what would become his home, Klamath Falls, Oregon,
where he joined the 114th Fighter Squadron at Kingsley Field as an F-15
Flight Instructor. Colonel Smith wore many hats at Kingsley. He served
as Chief of Academics, Chief of Syllabus Development, Chief of
Scheduling, Functional Check Flight Pilot, Assistant Director of
Operations, Chief of F-15 Student Training, Director of Operations,
173rd Maintenance Squadron Commander, 173rd Deputy Maintenance Group
Commander, and 173rd Maintenance Group Commander. This proven sustained
superior performance, seasoned operational knowledge, and superb
leadership made him the best choice to serve as the Commander of the
173rd Fighter Wing.
For the community in Klamath Falls, and also the dedicated men and
women at Kingsley Field, Colonel Smith is the epitome of leadership,
professionalism, and a supportive mentor. He led with both valor and
rigor. Under his valued leadership, he directed over 1,050 personnel,
from widely varying backgrounds, to ensure that airmen at the base
strategically excelled as an elite fighting force. As the only place in
the country where pilots still train on the F-15, Kingsley Field has
become an incubator for second-to-none (unrivaled) fighter pilots.
For the people in Klamath Falls, Colonel Smith's influence stretches
far beyond the expansive skies over Kingsley Field, ensuring the larger
community benefits from Kingsley Field's presence. Whether partnering
with the local university, providing job opportunities, or staying
engaged with the community, he always brought a ``Klamath-first''
mindset to his work. He led the effort to extend the Department of
Defense's lease in Klamath Falls through the rest of this century. As
one of the largest employers in the region, Kingsley Field remains a
strong economic driver. We partnered and hosted both Air Force
Secretary Heather Wilson and the Chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee Mac Thornberry, the first time either an Air Force Secretary
or Armed Services Committee Chairman has ever visited Kingsley Field.
Colonel Smith has positioned Kingsley Field and Klamath Falls for a
bright future.
For a man of his caliber, who demonstrated superb leadership,
dedication, and sacrifice throughout his service to our great nation,
it seems no amount of recognition is sufficient to say thank you.
Madam Speaker, it has been an honor to know and work alongside him
for many years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues
today and congratulate Colonel Smith for a lifetime of service to his
country. We wish him, his wife, Lindsay, and their two children: Luke,
11, Alex 9, only the best wishes as he retires from the United States
Air Force.
____________________
