Tom Cotton: “I would like to take a few moments to recognize Maj. Matthew ``Maddog'' Guertin who has worked in my Senate office this…”

“I would like to take a few moments to recognize Maj. Matthew ``Maddog'' Guertin who has worked in my Senate office this year as a defense fellow. Major Guertin--soon to be lieutenant colonel--is a patriot who has served our country nobly and made it a safer place. In 1 short year, he has proven to be an invaluable member of my staff. Major Guertin commissioned into the Air Force in 2010 as a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. After completing his graduate degree from Rice University, he trained at the prestigious Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in Texas before becoming an F-22 pilot. He quickly became a proven combat leader, having flown 150 combat hours in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, including 10 sorties over Syria and Iraq and dozens of defensive counter air hours to protect American ground troops. The Air Force stated that his actions ``directly contributed to the defeat of Islamic State insurgents.'' Major Guertin also flew hundreds of hours on Operation NOBLE EAGLE and alert missions in defense of the Alaskan coast and National Capital Region. Following his deployment to the Middle East, Major Guertin spent 3 years at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, flying and instructing pilots on the F-22.…”