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[Pages S631-S632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ROBERT DeSOUSA
Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the service of COL
Robert DeSousa upon his retirement from the Army on February 29, 2020.
For over 26 years, Colonel DeSousa has served with distinction and
dedication in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Pennsylvania National
Guard. Many Pennsylvanians may know Colonel DeSousa in his civilian
capacity as the widely respected State director for my offices in the
Commonwealth.
A native of New Jersey but an adopted son of Pennsylvania, Colonel
DeSousa holds a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, a law
degree from the Dickinson School of Law, and a master's degree from the
U.S. Army War College. He began his military career as a judge advocate
with the U.S. Army Reserve in 1993 and quickly established himself as
an outstanding defense lawyer and soldier. Following the September 11
terror attacks, Colonel DeSousa aided in the mobilization of our troops
and then deployed to Iraq in 2007. While deployed, he simultaneously
held three distinct positions for the Pennsylvania National Guard, the
U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 2008, Colonel DeSousa returned to serve in the 28th Infantry
Division Headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard. The following
year, he was tasked as the first ever regional defense counsel in what
would become the Army's first fully integrated trial defense service
for Reserve, Active Duty, and National Guard soldiers. As a result of
Colonel DeSousa's leadership in this role, thousands of Army soldiers
in nine different States gained greater access to legal defense
services. He was subsequently appointed as the State judge advocate for
the Pennsylvania National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in 2013. In
this position, from which he will retire this February, Colonel DeSousa
advised the Pennsylvania National Guard's adjutant general and his
command staff on legal and ethical matters while supervising nearly 50
judge advocates.
Colonel DeSousa has built an exemplary career on service and
leadership. His selflessness and competency, undoubtedly aided by his
positive can-do attitude and infectious smile, have earned him numerous
honors in the U.S. Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard. These
honors include a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army
Commendation Medal, and over a dozen other commendations. His
dedication to public service is evinced by his civilian career, too,
having previously been a Federal law clerk, an assistant U.S. attorney,
the chief counsel for Pennsylvania's Department of State, and the
inspector general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Thankfully, Colonel DeSousa's retirement is not the end of his
service to Pennsylvanians. He will continue in his current role as
State director for my Senate office, where he oversees the daily
operations of my seven State-based offices. In this role, Colonel
DeSousa is famous for his bits of wisdom he passes down. In particular,
he reminds his colleagues often that ``an email sent or a phone call
made does not mean mission accomplished.'' Colonel DeSousa meets this
mission every day, as he can generally be found out on the road,
crisscrossing our great Commonwealth to meet with constituents.
Colonel DeSousa, who is known to appreciate a good cigar, the
occasional whiskey, and, unrelatedly, sporting dapper bow-ties, is a
true friend to Pennsylvanians anywhere. I offer Colonel DeSousa my
heartfelt congratulations on his military retirement and
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am grateful for his counsel, his continued service to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and his friendship.
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