Page:CREC-2017-06-08.pdf/133

 June 8, 2017

and commanding officer, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, SPMAGTF—Crisis Response—Africa. Colonel Greenwood’s dynamic leadership and operational expertise brought about historic success for his unit and was instrumental to the accomplishment of priority U.S. national security objectives throughout Europe and Africa. After taking command in April 2016, Colonel Greenwood aptly led a fine team of marines during their predeployment training, ensuring a cohesive and highly effective regiment that was able to singularly focus on mission requirements. His clear and concise guidance set the tone for the entire command, successfully focused the regimental headquarters, and enabled a positive command climate with open lines of communication and a constructive learning environment. Upon deploying in October 2016, Colonel Greenwood’s excellent leadership and operational prowess brought about continued organizational and operational achievements, to include his team’s successful participation in multiple operations and 15 theater security cooperation engagements across the continent of Africa. Further, his vibrant personality and intuitive understanding of cultural complexities fostered alliances with key partner nations, building valuable partner capability and enduring relationships. One of the most significant accomplishments of the SPMAGTF was the assessment of ‘‘high risk, high threat’’ U.S. embassies in West and North Africa. To prepare for crisis response actions, Colonel Greenwood personally interacted with multiple ambassadors and regional security officers to form essential relationships and facilitate necessary information sharing. His tireless efforts allowed current and future SPMAGTF rotations to develop feasible, supportable, and comprehensive contingency plans for these strategic posts. I would also like to honor and thank the Greenwood family for their tremendous service and sacrifice during the past year. Colonel Greenwood’s operational success was only possible because of the tireless support he received at home from his wife, Kim, and son, Charlie. We often forget the hardship and extra load our military spouses and children take on during work-ups and deployments, and I thank Kim and Charlie for sharing their husband and father with our Nation. Military service is a family commitment, and I thank the Greenwoods for their many years of public service. Colonel Greenwood, congratulations on a successful command and deployment. I am so proud of your many accomplishments and wish you and your family the very best in your next assignment.∑ f

TRIBUTE TO JAKE HEINECKE ∑ Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of rec-

VerDate Sep 11 2014

02:44 Jun 09, 2017

S3359

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE

Jkt 069060

ognizing Jake Heinecke, a law enforcement officer from Fergus County who retired from full-time service at the end of May. Deputy Heinecke spent two decades protecting and serving the people of Montana. Deputy Heinecke was raised with a strong family background in law enforcement. His father was an instructor at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, and the calling to law enforcement was clearly a natural fit for Jake. During the midnineties, Deputy Heinecke began his career as a reserve deputy in Beaverhead County, nestled in the southwestern corner of Montana. He quickly transitioned to full-time law enforcement after finishing college and served Beaverhead County for 15 more years. During the final chapters of his full-time law enforcement career, Deputy Heinecke served the people of Fergus County, located in the geographic center of the State. Troy Eades, the Fergus County sheriff, described Deputy Heinecke’s performance in the department with concise clarity, ‘‘Great job. Great officer.’’ Despite retiring from full-time law enforcement, Jake plans to continue to play a role in the community by serving in the Central Montana Ambulance Service as a full-time EMT. Montanans appreciate the work of our law enforcement and emergency services professionals. When someone gives over two decades of their professional life to protect and serve others, that accomplishment deserves our sincere gratitude. Thanks, Jake, for helping keep ‘‘The Last Best Place’’ safe for all of us to enjoy.∑ f

FIVE MILLIONTH SOLDIER COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING AT FORT JACKSON ∑ Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate South Carolina’s Fort Jackson, as the 5 millionth soldier has just completed the Basic Combat Training, BCT, Program. Fort Jackson is located in Columbia, SC, and has a deep and proud history. For 100 years, Fort Jackson has helped the U.S. Army train and fulfill needs for disciplined and skilled soldiers in times of war and peace. As the U.S. Army’s largest location for BCT, Fort Jackson is responsible for training half of the entire Army’s BCT population. Fort Jackson also provides an array of services outside of BCT, including the U.S. Army’s Drill Sergeant School and Soldier Support Institute. Today I join the citizens of South Carolina in recognizing Fort Jackson, the soldiers, civilians, and retirees employed there, and the soldiers who have been trained there. I also extend my deepest gratitude to these soldiers’ families, as they have also served and sacrificed for our country. With the completion of each mission, Fort Jackson continues to make the Palmetto State and the U.S. Army proud. I will always be thankful for Fort Jackson’s dedication to protecting our great Nation.∑

PO 00000

Frm 00015

Fmt 0624

Sfmt 0634

TRIBUTE TO DANIELLE RIPICH ∑ Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Danielle Ripich, who is retiring from over a decade of service not only to students but also to the State of Maine as president of the University of New England, UNE, this month. Even though Danielle is not a native of Maine, she has, in every regard, embraced, cherished, and served the State just as any Mainer would. Under her tenure, UNE grew from 4,000 students to more than 10,000, increased its operating surplus by $127 million, expanded its campuses in Biddeford and Portland while opening a campus in Tangier, Morocco—making UNE the only U.S. institution of higher education to own a study-abroad campus specifically designed for the needs of science students—and launched three new colleges within the university. Additionally, in the midst of a national crisis over student loans, Danielle presided over one of the lowest default rates nationally on student loans at only 2.5 percent, even with 95 percent of students at the university taking out loans. A native of Ohio, Danielle began her impressive scholarly journey on her home turf, receiving her Ph.D. in speech pathology from Kent State University and both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from Cleveland State University. She then went on to serve in leadership roles at Case Western Reserve University and later became dean of the college of health professions, as well as a professor in the college of medicine’s department of neurology at Medical University of South Carolina before joining UNE. Danielle’s accomplishments span beyond her work in higher education. As a result of her successful efforts in expanding both accessibility and opportunities at UNE for Maine’s best and brightest, UNE’s contribution to the Maine economy has topped more than $1 billion per year, with an annual donation of more than $21 million worth of health services to the community. The university is considered the leading supplier of healthcare professionals for the State of Maine. Danielle was named the 2016 Mainebiz Nonprofit Business Leader of the Year and is internationally recognized for her language research, particularly in the areas of child language and Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Adding to her already remarkable and diverse portfolio of accomplishments, she was named a congressional fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Throughout her years of service to the State, our country, and the world at large in her roles including president of UNE, mentor to student, and trailblazer in child language and Alzheimer’s disease research, Danielle has demonstrated remarkable citizenship and a commitment to higher education, medicine, and community progress that is rarely seen. The UNE

E:CRFMG08JN6.021

S08JNPT1