[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9] [Senate] [Page 12367] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO COLONEL PHILIP C. SKUTA Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize COL Phil Skuta, USMC, who will complete his tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps' Office of Legislative Affairs on July 15, 2010. In his role as the director of the Marine Corps' Senate Liaison Office, he has provided excellent support by ensuring the smooth and timely passage of information from the Marine Corps to Senators and their staffs. His sense of duty and responsibility contributed to a successful relationship between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Marine Corps. His dedication to serving the U.S. Senate will be missed. A native of Williamsport, PA, Colonel Skuta attended the University of Pittsburgh and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1987. His career as a Marine officer has been varied and admirable. Prior to his assignment to the U.S. Senate, he served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate. Before that, he led 1,200 marines, soldiers, and sailors in combat in Iraq in 2004 as a battalion task force commander. Over the past 24 months, his excellent work, leadership of his liaison team, and example of professionalism have served the Senate well and reflected credit on the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon his arrival as director of the U.S. Senate Marine Corps Liaison Office, Colonel Skuta assumed and upheld the distinguished standard set by his predecessors. His approach to resolving complex issues allowed him to advise and inform Members and their staffs of Marine Corps plans, policies, programs, and worldwide activities. Despite the fluidity of legislative process, Colonel Skuta established and developed productive working relationships through engagement opportunities. As liaison officer to the Senate, Colonel Skuta represented the Marine Corps on all Marine-related matters and effectively articulated the Marine Corps' most difficult and challenging legislative initiatives to Members and staff. He has been an integral player in maintaining effective relationships between the Marine Corps, my colleagues in the Senate, professional committee staff, and personal staff members. In particular, he responded to hundreds of congressional inquiries, ranging from such sensitive issues as notification of combat casualties from the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns to providing timely information on the operation, organization, and budget of the Marine Corps. He also planned and executed dozens of international congressional delegations. I had the pleasure of traveling on two of these congressional delegations with Colonel Skuta and was impressed with his service to the Members of the Senate. He reflected well on his service at numerous Marine Corps and joint social events on Capitol Hill. Among others, these events included the Marine Corps Birthday Commemoration, the Joint Services Reception, the Marine Corps Marathon, and several Marine Corps seasonal receptions. On behalf of the Senate, I thank Colonel Skuta for his continued service to the Nation and the U.S. Marine Corps, and I thank his wife Jane for her steadfast support while he fulfilled this essential duty. We in the U.S. Senate, and I personally, wish them all the best as Phil departs to assume duties as Director of the Marine Corps' Strategic Initiatives Group at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC. Semper Fi! ____________________