Deb Fischer: “today, I rise to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the U.S. Air Force, Maj. Tiara Puro. Major Puro was…”

“today, I rise to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the U.S. Air Force, Maj. Tiara Puro. Major Puro was competitively selected to represent the Department of the Air Force in the Department of Defense Legislative Fellows Program, where she has worked with my office over the past year. Though Major Puro is not originally from my State, she fits right in--a perfect example of what we call ``Nebraska nice.'' Each day, Major Puro is known to walk into each room in our office, greeting every member of our staff warmly. Generous with her time and expertise, she cheerfully answers questions about our national defense from interns and staff. Major Puro did spend time in my home State of Nebraska. She earned a degree in general studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating in 2011. But it was before her time in Nebraska, back in her home State of Utah, that her experience with the military began. Major Puro enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a paralegal specialist while still in high school. Once a month, she drove to the armory in Vernal to train with the 1457th Engineer Battalion as part of the Delayed Entry Program. A week after graduating from high school, she shipped to basic combat training at Fort Jackson, SC. Major Puro's decision to serve our country in the military solidified that fateful day in September 2001.…”