TRIBUTE TO MARTIN C. FAGA -- HON. DAN GLICKMAN (Extension of Remarks - March 09, 1993)
[Page: E546]
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HON. DAN GLICKMAN
in the House of Representatives
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1993
- Mr. GLICKMAN. Mr. Speaker, on March 5, 1993, Martin Faga completed 30 years of outstanding Government service when his resignation as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space, and Director, National Reconnaissance Office [NRO] took effect.
- Unless you served on the Intelligence Committee, or perhaps the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, you may not have known Marty Faga. For the past 3 1/2 years, Marty led the NRO, an organization whose very existence had been, until a short time ago, highly classified. As head of the NRO, Marty was responsible for ensuring that the United States has the technological capacity to produce and maintain the spaceborne and airborne assets needed to acquire intelligence anywhere around the world. That intelligence is used to support such activities as the monitoring of arms control agreements, indications and warning, and the planning and conduct of military operations.
- While Director of the NRO, Marty also served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space, a position in which he was responsible for the supervision of Air Force space matters, with primary emphasis on policy, strategy, and planning. In addition to advising the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff on space policies, plans, and programs, he coordinated relations between the Air Force and the other services, NASA, and the executive departments responsible for commercial space activities.
- The members and staff of the Intelligence Committee took great pride in Marty's accomplishments in these positions because he was one of our own. Marty served on the staff from 1977 when the committee was established until he left for the executive branch in 1989. His expertise was in the program and budget area and, in addition to mastering the details of literally hundreds of intelligence activities, he directed the program and budget authorization staff for 5 years. His work on the committee was unfailingly thorough, and his recommendations always objective. Marty's judgment was respected and trusted by those who served on the committee. I can think of no higher compliment to pay anyone who works on a congressional staff.
- Mr. Speaker, the Congress and the Nation have benefited significantly from Marty Faga's service. On behalf of the committee, I want to wish him continued success as he directs his talents and energies toward new challenges.
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