[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING BRIGADIER GENERAL MATTHEW WARD HIGER ON THE OCCASION OF 
 THIS RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE 
                            BASE, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JAY OBERNOLTE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2023

  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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