Congratulating Mr. David Cook of Huntsville, Alabama on His Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. STRONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable citizen, Mr. David Cook of Huntsville, Alabama, on his well-deserved retirement from Torch Technologies. Dave Cook's distinguished career is a powerful testament to the American dream, and a lifetime dedicated to the service and protection of our Nation.

Dave began his service to our Nation by enlisting in the United States Army. His exceptional potential was quickly recognized, earning him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1984 with an Engineering degree. He further sharpened his expertise, earning an MBA from The Ohio State University and completing a Senior Service Fellowship at the University of Texas Institute for Advanced Technology.

His military career spanned critical roles in both combat arms leadership and defense acquisition. At the Pentagon, he served as Executive Officer to the Deputy for Systems Management and as Deputy Director of Executive Communications and Control for the Secretary of the Army. Most notably, as Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, he was instrumental in the urgent effort to field fifteen thousand Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, a lifesaving action that protected countless troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dave's contributions to our Nation's missile defense capability are equally extraordinary. As Product Manager for the Sentinel Radar System following the September 11th attacks, he rapidly deployed teams to support operations, achieving record readiness rates and earning him recognition as the top product manager among thirty-two Lieutenant Colonels. As Project Manager for the Ground Based Interceptor Program at the Missile Defense Agency, he achieved the first successful launch of a newly configured interceptor within five months and doubled the operational interceptors deployed. For this success, he was awarded both the Program Manager of the Year and the Missile Defense Pinnacle Leadership Awards. Following his military retirement, Dave brought his leadership to Torch Technologies, rising to the level of Senior Vice President and Business Group Lead.

Mr. Speaker, as Dave Cook begins this next chapter alongside his wife, Petra, and their two children, David, Jr. and Brandi, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deepest thanks and congratulations to Mr. David Cook for his decades of extraordinary service to our Nation, our warfighters, and the Huntsville community.

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