Recognizing Brigadier General Matthew Ward Higer on the Occasion of This Retirement From the United States Air Force At Edwards Air Force Base, California

Floor Speech

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Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brigadier General Matthew Ward Higer's retirement from our United States Air Force. His final assignment on Active Duty was as Commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In this role General Higer led nearly 8,000 personnel in the developmental test and evaluation of the KC-46, KC-135, KC-10, C-17, C-5, F-35, F-22, F-16, B-1, B-2, B-21, B- 52, T-7A, RO-4, and numerous other emerging technologies. General Higer also served as the Installation Commander of United States Air Force Production Plant 42 and Edwards Air Force Base, globally recognized as the center of the aerospace testing universe.

General Higer has proudly served our country as a military officer since he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 7, 1993, through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 060, at the University of Southern California. He served our nation as an F- 16 instructor pilot and an experimental test pilot amassing 3,000 military flight hours in 40 different aircraft. His 30-year career encompasses two combat deployments, countless nights away from family, and fifteen assignments at diverse locations well beyond California including Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Korea, and right here in Washington D.C. His leadership potential and demonstrated commitment to integrity, service, and excellence resulted in his promotion to Brigadier General on December 2, 2020.

General Higer exemplifies the very best of our High Desert community and our nation's commitment to building servicemembers dedicated to the profession of arms. His superior leadership and devotion to duty has not gone unrecognized. He is the recipient of decorations including the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and upon his retirement he will be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

General Higer's active duty military service to our nation would not have been possible without the love, support, and encouragement of his family. His wife of 22 years, Leslie--also an Air Force veteran, and children, Alex and Zev, are also each deserving of our deepest gratitude for their support of the General throughout his service to our country. Heather and I thank the General and his famijy for their devotion, service, and sacrifice.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Brigadier General Higer for his three decades of selfless service to our Nation, in commending him for his steadfast dedication to our Constitution, and in wishing him many years of joy and peace in his well-earned retirement.

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