[Page: E708]

• Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, on April 30, Fred Hitz will complete seven and one-half years in office as the Central Intelligence Agency's inspector general, and a career in the federal government which exceeds twenty years.

• In addition to service at the CIA before his confirmation as Inspector General, Mr. Hitz served in Republican and Democratic administrations in a variety of demanding positions at the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy. His tenure in each of these posts was characterized by uncommon dedication and exceptional performance. Mr. Hitz' experience in government, his first-hand knowledge of the unique aspects of working in the CIA, and the high regard in which he was held on Capitol Hill, made him an excellent choice in 1990 to be the CIA's first presidentially appointed inspector general.

• Inspectors general with independence guaranteed by the fact that they are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the President are essential to the effective operation of executive agencies, and to the maintenance of the public's confidence that officials at these agencies will be held accountable for their actions. I suspect that only by serving in one of these posts could someone fully appreciate how difficult it is to function simultaneously as a senior manager, and an independent critic, of the same agency. As challenging as service as an inspector general must be at most agencies, it is even more so at the CIA where the need to compartment activities for security purposes makes it hard to trace the path of certain decisions, and where the inclination is not to volunteer information, especially to those not perceived to be part of `the team.'

• Fred Hitz has worked tirelessly to create and sustain an inspector general's process which was supported both inside and outside of the CIA. That he has succeeded is a testament to his great ability and unquestionable integrity. The reputation which the Office of the Inspector General enjoys for conducting audits, inspections, and investigations which are thorough and follow the facts wherever they might lead, and for making tough recommendations for improvement regardless of their popularity, is a reflection of Mr. Hitz' leadership abilities. He will be sorely missed at the CIA, but his most important legacy may be the degree to which he has institutionalized in the inspector general's office his commitment to uncovering the truth.

• A graduate of Princeton University, Mr. Hitz will be returning to his alma mater, this time as a member of the faculty. Anyone who has heard or read Fred's views on subjects like the organization of the intelligence community, or the community's role in the post-Cold War world, knows him to be a person who gives important issues great thought and who expresses himself on them with clarity and care. He will be an excellent teacher from whom students at Princeton will learn a great deal.

• Mr. Hitz has served the country with great distinction. I want to wish him, and his wife, Mary Buford, only the best in the years to come. I hope that he will not mind an occasional call for advice from those of us who have come to rely on his counsel.

END