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[Page S4630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO ROBERT R. HOOD
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senator Reed, as
the chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, it
is our honor to pay tribute to a great leader and senior executive of
the Department of Defense, Mr. Robert R. Hood.
Mr. Hood has served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Legislative Affairs from August 2017 to July 2020. As he prepares to
leave this position to enter into the private sector, we commend him
for his sound leadership, advice, and professional judgement on
numerous critical issues of enduring importance to the Department of
Defense, Congress, and this Nation.
Mr. Hood has served our Nation for more than 18 years in various
capacities within the Federal Government. His service to our Nation
includes roles as a professional staff member for the House Committee
on Science, as well as senior legislative assistant, senior policy
advisor, and assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
for policy. Mr. Hood also served 5 years as the Director of
Congressional Affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration,
a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy.
Mr. Hood previously served in the White House as special assistant to
President George W. Bush in the Office of Legislative Affairs,
overseeing coordination with the Senate, including the Armed Services,
Homeland Security, Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees.
Before working on the White House staff, Mr. Hood served at the
Pentagon as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Legislative Affairs, where he was responsible for promoting the
policies, strategies, and budget of the Department of Defense to the
U.S. Congress. Mr. Hood also served as the Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense, Comptroller, for Budget and Appropriations Affairs, working
closely with the Appropriations Committees of the Congress.
For the past 3 years as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Legislative Affairs, Mr. Hood deftly managed and guided the
Department's congressional relations, ensuring the preparation of key
senior leaders for Senate confirmations, congressional hearings, and
briefings, while simultaneously developing and leading a skilled and
focused legislative affairs team. His leadership, knowledge, and
personal efforts greatly contributed to one of the most successful
legislative years in Department history, culminating with the
establishment of the U.S. Space Force, which was signed into law on
December 20, 2019 as part of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA.
Mr. Hood provided significant contributions and leadership during the
development and execution of the Secretary of Defense's Congressional
Engagement Strategy, ensuring an integrated legislative program
directly aligned with the National Defense Strategy. This comprehensive
plan supported the Department's priorities, aligned legislative
objectives to the congressional calendar, and guided the execution of
over 4,000 congressional engagements within the Office of the Secretary
of Defense and oversight and alignment of over 10,000 congressional
engagements across the Department during his 3-year tenure. The
strategic execution of these engagements directly led to the attainment
of Department of Defense legislative priorities and resourcing at
historic levels in the fiscal years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 National
Defense Authorization Acts, NDAAs, appropriations bills.
On behalf of the Senate, we thank Robert, his wife Jennifer, and his
children: Evan, Caroline, Megan, and Emma, for their continued
commitment, sacrifice and contribution to this great Nation. We join
our colleagues in wishing him future success as he transitions into the
private sector.
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