June 22, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 114 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page S3125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO REAR ADMIRAL PATRICK ``PAT'' A. PIERCEY

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a great 
leader and an exceptional officer, Rear Admiral Patrick ``Pat'' A. 
Piercey who will soon retire from the U.S. Navy after over 35 years of 
dedicated service to the Nation. Rear Admiral Piercey is a native of 
Clinton, OK, and graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy 
in 1985. He is a true professional and a dedicated leader. Throughout 
his career, he commanded our great sailors at many levels, deployed 
numerous times in defense of the Nation and served in some of the most 
critical positions in our Navy. Rear Admiral Piercey has provided 
outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on 
numerous critical issues of enduring importance to the Navy, Congress, 
and the Nation.
  Rear Admiral Piercey commanded USS Howard--DDG 83--USS Bunker Hill--
CG 52--Carrier Strike Group 9, and Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. Due 
to his sound judgment and intellect, Rear Admiral Piercey served in 
many critical assignments, including special assistant to the Deputy 
Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, executive 
assistant to the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, and Director for Operations--J3--U.S. Inda-Pacific Command.
  For the past 2 years, Rear Admiral Piercey has served as the Chief of 
Staff of U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. During this 
period of extraordinary change and challenge in Europe's security 
environment, Rear Admiral Piercey has improved relationships with NATO 
allies and European partners. Through his strategic vision, he has 
successfully positioned U.S. European Command to meet every mission 
requirement in Europe.
  On behalf of my colleagues and the entire U.S. Congress, I want to 
thank Rear Admiral Piercey for his decades of dedicated service to the 
Navy and our Nation. I am sure that many officers and sailors will 
continue to emulate him as a role model for service, sacrifice and 
leadership. I also want to thank his wife, Katherine, and their 
children, Rebecca and Andrew, for their sacrifices and tremendous 
support. I join my colleagues in wishing him and his family fair winds 
and following seas and future success in retirement.

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