Mr. President, today I rise to honor a true patriot and native son of Canton, CT. After more than 3 years of service as the legislative assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Brig. Gen. Steven R. Rudder is deservedly moving up to assume the responsibilities of commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. On this occasion, I wish to recognize General Rudder's noble service and dedication to fostering the warm relationship between the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Senate. Commissioned in June of 1984, General Rudder is well-known and respected as a true leader and warrior. In addition to serving as a weapons and tactics instructor, he has distinguished himself in combat and effectively commanded HML/A-167 and Marine Air Group 26. Over the last 3 years, General Rudder has been instrumental in facilitating the oversight responsibilities of the Senate. Known for his comprehensive knowledge of legislative issues and the operational requirements of the Marine Corps, he ensured that the Senate Armed Services Committee was armed with timely information on Operation Enduring Freedom and other forward-deployed Marine forces, as well as numerous Marine Corps programs to include the Joint Strike Fighter, the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, and the MV-22 Osprey. Moreover, General Rudder worked to recognize the contributions of the Montford Point Marines--the first African Americans who entered into service with the Marine Corps during World War II--with a Congressional Gold Medal.…
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