Haley Stevens: “I rise to pay tribute to Robert J. Shue, a senior official in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller…”

“I rise to pay tribute to Robert J. Shue, a senior official in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller, who in early January, 2006, will retire from a distinguished career spanning 37 years of exemplary service to America. Mr. Shue began his career serving over 13 years in the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Department of Commerce. He joined the Department of Defense in 1982 and quickly became a highly valuable member of the Secretary of Defense's staff. During his 23 years in the Comptroller's office, Mr. Shue was a highly respected leader and expert on the Defense Department budget and a wide range of related matters. He played a critical role in the formulation, approval, and execution of defense budgets that produced a much-needed strengthening of America's defense posture and enabled our military to fulfill its many demanding commitments. Mr. Shue developed and led a diverse staff of analysts and liaison officers and made his office the Defense Department's primary leader in tracking and resolving high-level budget issues. He meticulously tracked numerous and complex actions affecting the funding available to the Department. He was a pivotal leader in presenting and justifying each new budget to the Congress and the American public. Mr. Shue was vital to the Department's analysis of congressional action on Defense Department funding and to devising strategies to influence that action.…”