Dale W. Strong

SPACEPORT Act

in committee

Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center and recognizing its continued leadership in the development of the Space Launch System and human space exploration.

in committee

SERVICE Act of 2025

in committee

“Mr. STRONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished leader, Lieutenant General Sean A. Gainey, as he concludes a remarkable career of service to our Nation. For the past several years, it has been our state's distinct honor to host him at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where he has served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Since his commission as an Air Defense Artillery officer in 1990, General Gainey has been a pillar of our Nation's defense. His career has taken him from a platoon leader in Germany to the highest echelons of military leadership. He has commanded the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Hawaii and the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg. He has also served with distinction in critical roles at the Pentagon, including as the first Director of the Joint Counter-UAS Office. Furthermore, his service in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Southern Watch are a testament to his unwavering commitment. His strategic vision and deep expertise have been instrumental in shaping our Nation's air and missile defense posture for the modern era. His unwavering commitment to the mission and to his soldiers has left an indelible mark on the United States Army. As General Gainey retires, we in Alabama are particularly proud of his most recent service as the Commanding General of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal. His leadership has been critical to our national security and a source of great pride for our state. On behalf of a grateful Nation and the people of Alabama, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to General Gainey and his family, who have served alongside him with unwavering support and sacrifice. We wish him a long, healthy, and well-deserved retirement. ____________________”

2026-04-13 · Defense

“Mr. STRONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable citizen, Mr. David Cook of Huntsville, Alabama, on his well-deserved retirement from Torch Technologies. Dave Cook's distinguished career is a powerful testament to the American dream, and a lifetime dedicated to the service and protection of our Nation. Dave began his service to our Nation by enlisting in the United States Army. His exceptional potential was quickly recognized, earning him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1984 with an Engineering degree. He further sharpened his expertise, earning an MBA from The Ohio State University and completing a Senior Service Fellowship at the University of Texas Institute for Advanced Technology. His military career spanned critical roles in both combat arms leadership and defense acquisition. At the Pentagon, he served as Executive Officer to the Deputy for Systems Management and as Deputy Director of Executive Communications and Control for the Secretary of the Army. Most notably, as Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, he was instrumental in the urgent effort to field fifteen thousand Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, a lifesaving action that protected countless troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dave's contributions to our Nation's missile defense capability are equally extraordinary. As Product Manager for the Sentinel Radar System following the September 11th attacks, he rapidly deployed teams to support operations, achieving record readiness rates and earning him recognition as the top product manager among thirty-two Lieutenant Colonels. As Project Manager for the Ground Based Interceptor Program at the Missile Defense Agency, he achieved the first successful launch of a newly configured interceptor within five months and doubled the operational interceptors deployed. For this success, he was awarded both the Program Manager of the Year and the Missile Defense Pinnacle Leadership Awards. Following his military retirement, Dave brought his leadership to Torch Technologies, rising to the level of Senior Vice President and Business Group Lead. Mr. Speaker, as Dave Cook begins this next chapter alongside his wife, Petra, and their two children, David, Jr. and Brandi, I ask my [[Page E1167]] colleagues to join me in extending our deepest thanks and congratulations to Mr. David Cook for his decades of extraordinary service to our Nation, our warfighters, and the Huntsville community. ____________________”

2025-12-09 · Defense