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“HONORING COLONEL ART WHITE, USMC” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S9382-S9383 on Sept. 20, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING COLONEL ART WHITE, USMC
Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, as a veteran Marine and friend, I rise today to pay tribute to COL Art White, who will complete his 3-
year tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps' Office of Legislative Affairs on December 1, 2004. I have had the pleasure to work with Colonel White on many occasions. In his role as the director of the Marine Corps' Senate Liaison Office, he has provided tremendous support while acting as the principal conduit for information between the Marine Corps and many Members of this eminent body. His affable personality and attention to duty contributed to a highly successful relationship between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Marine Corps. His dedication to the Members of the United States Senate will be sorely missed.
Art White was born and raised in Westchester, NY. After high school in New York, he attended Georgetown University, where he also played basketball for the Hoyas, graduating in 1976. In 1977, Colonel White received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and subsequently reported to Quantico, VA, to take on the challenge of becoming a marine officer. During his subsequent 27-year career in the Marine Corps that included both active and reserve duty, Art served as an infantry officer, aide de camp to the assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division, a communications officer, a civil affairs officer, a counterintelligence officer, and a reserve mobilization officer.
In 1980, Colonel White left active duty and transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve. He then attended the Seattle University School of Law, graduating in 1983, and began a long, distinguished career in public service. He served as a professional staff member for the Republican Policy Committee chaired by our former colleague from the great State of Texas, Senator John Tower; as a staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives; as the director of legislative affairs for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the Commerce Department; and as the deputy assistant director for legislative affairs for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
In December, 2001, Colonel White was ordered to active duty to serve as the director of the Marine Corps' Liaison office in the Senate. Since that time, he has been a key player in maintaining effective relationships between the Marine Corps, my colleagues in the Senate, professional committee staff, and personal staff members. In particular, he responded to thousands of congressional inquiries, ranging from such sensitive issues as notification of combat casualties during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, to providing timely information on the operation, organization and budget of the Marine Corps. He also planned and executed approximately 33 international congressional delegations. I had the pleasure of traveling on several of these congressional delegations with Colonel White and was greatly impressed with his service to the Members of the Senate. His strong acumen for social interaction carried over into Colonel White's ability to represent his service at numerous Marine Corps and Joint Service social events on Capitol Hill. Among others, these events included the Marine Corps Birthday Commemoration, the Joint Services Reception, and several Marine Corps fall and spring receptions--all important events that enabled me and my Senate colleagues to maintain relationships with the Marine Corps' senior leadership. His efforts throughout this period not only communicated the commandant's message to the U.S. Senate, but also upheld the Marine Corps' positive image and professional reputation on Capitol Hill.
On behalf of the Senate, I thank Colonel White for his service to the Nation and the U.S. Marine Corps, and I thank his wife, Katherine Ann, and his daughter, Mary Rose, for their steadfast support while he fulfilled this essential duty. We in the U.S. Senate, and I personally, wish them all the best as Colonel White returns to his civilian career and tackles new challenges.
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