TRIBUTE TO REAR ADM. THOMAS A. BROOKS, USN -- HON. DAVE MCCURDY (Extension of Remarks - June 24, 1991)
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HON. DAVE MCCURDY
in the House of Representatives
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1991
- Mr. McCURDY. Mr. Speaker, on August 16, Rear Adm. Thomas A. Brooks, the 54th Director of Naval Intelligence, will complete a career which spanned the entire spectrum of intelligence disciplines and which contributed greatly to the Navy and to national security. Admiral Brooks' intellect and integrity have earned him widespread respect and admiration in Congress.
- Admiral Brooks' career reflects a record of unmatched leadership and achievement: In fleet tours ranging from assistant intelligence officer on an amphibious group staff to the 2d Fleet intelligence officer; in operational intelligence tours ranging from junior analyst at Navy Field Operational Intelligence Office to its commanding officer; in counterintelligence tours as commanding officer, Naval Investigative Service Office, Vietnam and at Naval Investigative Service headquarters; in human intelligence tours as officer in charge, CTF 157.1 and as Assistant Naval Attache, Turkey; and in senior intelligence management tours as U.S. Atlantic Command intelligence officer, as deputy director, DIA for JCS Support and ultimately as Director of Naval Intelligence.
- Admiral Brooks strove to ensure that the fleet commanders and operators received coherent, relevant intelligence products of value to military planning and operations. His experiences in war and in various world crisis drove him to maintain the Navy's preeminence in operational intelligence.
- While serving as Director of Naval Intelligence from July 1988 to August 1991, Admiral Brooks brilliantly and tirelessly supported and executed national policy, provided enlightened advice and counsel to Navy and national leadership, and developed and directed a number of programs which provided invaluable intelligence to national and fleet commanders and operators, thereby greatly enhancing national security. Throughout his tenure as the Director, he improved the quality, productivity, efficiency and responsiveness of Naval Intelligence. As a direct result of his leadership, innovation, and management and organizational initiatives, he saved the Navy and the Nation millions of dollars.
- Rear Admiral Brooks is one of the most articulate professional intelligence specialists in the national intelligence community, and he has established himself as an internationally recognized authority on foreign military, political and intelligence matters. He is a national asset, unsurpassed in the impact he has had on intelligence community reform and the creative management of intelligence resources. His advice on the foreign military threat and counterintelligence is sought at the highest levels of the U.S. Navy and has influenced many decisions made by the Navy, the Department of Defense and the Congress.
- Admiral Brooks will be sorely missed, but his contributions to the professionalism and spirit of the intelligence community will be an enduring legacy. I want to wish him every success as he turns his attention to new opportunities and new challenges.
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