Orrin Hatch: “today I wish to pay tribute to a man who has dutifully served our Nation as a public servant for more than 30 years--Mr.…”

“today I wish to pay tribute to a man who has dutifully served our Nation as a public servant for more than 30 years--Mr. John B. Johns. John will retire from his role as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Maintenance Policy and Programs at the end of this year. We will miss his leadership, his tenacity in tackling the impossible, and his courage in the face of adversity. I have had the privilege of knowing John for several years and have always been amazed at his commitment to our country and his devotion to our military. In his current role, he is responsible for the oversight of the Department of Defense's maintenance program that exceeds an annual budget of $80 billion. During his distinguished career, John has been deployed twice--first to Iraq in 2010, where he served as the director of the training and advisory mission and the director of logistics for the Iraqi Security Forces; and second to Afghanistan in 2013, where he served as the executive director of Afghan National Security Forces Sustainment for the International Security Assistance Force. One of John's primary duties in his current position is to host the annual Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium that recognizes excellence in maintenance activities within the Armed Services and the Coast Guard. During this event, the Department recognizes leaders and organizations for the superior service they render to promote the readiness of the U.S. military.…”