Recognizing Congressional Patriot Award Recipient Mark Kipphut

Floor Speech

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Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Mark Kipphut of McLendon-Chisholm, Texas, and present him with the Congressional Patriot Award. Mark has dedicated himself to faithfully serving our community and country.

After graduating from The Citadel with a political science degree in May 1979, Mark commissioned into the United States Air Force. He served as a Command Intelligence Officer during the Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism for many years. In his last assignment, Mark became the Director of Intelligence for the Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base. He later received a master's degree in management from Embry- Riddle University.

When he retired from the military as a Colonel, Mark served as the Director of Strategy for Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. In 2010, he and his family moved to Texas, where he became the Program Director of Tactical Intelligence Systems for Raytheon. In this role, Mark oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales and government contracting. He currently works as a Senior Advisor for BCE Consulting, in which he focuses on enhancing our operational capabilities to defend against cyber and unmanned threats. In addition to protecting our national security, Mark is passionate about giving back to his community and supporting our veterans. He is the Commander of the Rockwall Terry Fisher American Legion Post, where he created college scholarships for the children of veterans. Moreover, Mark organizes annual trips for students to attend the Youth Leadership Conferences. I am proud of Mark's contributions to our community, and I am sure he will continue to make a positive impact on the world around us for many years to come.

It is an honor to bestow Mark with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to our Nation and the people of North Texas.

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