WEBVTT 00:00.340 --> 00:03.110 Deputy Secretary Lynn Admiral and mrs 00:03.110 --> 00:06.560 mullen Mr Gibson to the friends from 00:06.560 --> 00:08.890 the U . S . O . To the other leadership 00:08.890 --> 00:11.000 here at the pentagon . Welcome and 00:11.000 --> 00:13.520 thank you for being here today again . 00:13.520 --> 00:15.687 My name is mike roads , I get to serve 00:15.687 --> 00:17.798 as the director of administration and 00:17.798 --> 00:20.020 management for the department and today 00:20.020 --> 00:21.909 I have the privilege of being the 00:21.909 --> 00:24.020 master of ceremonies . I have to tell 00:24.020 --> 00:26.130 you it is a true honor to be able to 00:26.130 --> 00:28.297 recognize the wonderful partnership of 00:28.297 --> 00:30.630 the Department of Defense and the U . S . 00:30.630 --> 00:32.797 O . A partnership that has lasted over 00:32.797 --> 00:36.560 70 years . Um personally , I'm the son 00:36.560 --> 00:38.900 of a army sergeant major . Uh , I've 00:38.900 --> 00:41.140 served as a soldier and I have spent my 00:41.140 --> 00:43.640 entire career after I graduated college 00:43.640 --> 00:45.862 with the Department of Defense . So for 00:45.862 --> 00:47.973 many perspectives , I've been able to 00:47.973 --> 00:49.584 see that partnership in that 00:49.584 --> 00:51.696 relationship and see how impactful it 00:51.696 --> 00:55.200 can be . Um for those who've been 00:55.200 --> 00:57.311 around this building a little while , 00:57.640 --> 00:59.910 you may recall that on the second 00:59.910 --> 01:02.140 corridor coming up the ramp , we used 01:02.140 --> 01:04.350 to have a display for the USO to show 01:04.350 --> 01:06.517 some of the history of the U . S . O . 01:06.517 --> 01:08.350 And some of our partnership That 01:08.350 --> 01:11.050 covered from 1941 to the 80's with the 01:11.050 --> 01:13.410 renovation of this tiny little building 01:13.410 --> 01:15.960 here . We took the opportunity to 01:15.960 --> 01:19.870 redesign that display . Um sometimes 01:19.870 --> 01:22.037 people refer to my job as the mayor of 01:22.037 --> 01:24.360 the building and some days that's good . 01:24.360 --> 01:26.710 Some days that's not so good . But 01:26.710 --> 01:29.100 today is a wonderful day . One of the 01:29.100 --> 01:31.510 tremendous privileges of having a 01:31.510 --> 01:33.732 position is that I get to be associated 01:33.732 --> 01:35.954 with the graphics folks , the office of 01:35.954 --> 01:37.954 the Secretary of Defense , graphics 01:37.954 --> 01:40.066 folks who have over said overseen and 01:40.066 --> 01:42.121 lead this project . And I do have to 01:42.121 --> 01:44.232 recognize Kathy zika foods who does a 01:44.232 --> 01:45.788 tremendous job leading that 01:45.788 --> 01:47.899 organization , kelly Guerrero who was 01:47.899 --> 01:50.121 the lead on this particular project and 01:50.121 --> 01:52.399 everybody that's been involved with it . 01:52.399 --> 01:54.677 It's just a tremendous , wonderful job . 01:54.677 --> 01:57.220 Well done Now . It's my privilege to 01:57.230 --> 01:59.350 introduce to you the 30th Deputy 01:59.350 --> 02:01.580 Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary 02:01.580 --> 02:04.340 Lynn has spent his career really 02:04.340 --> 02:06.340 working with national Security and 02:06.340 --> 02:08.350 Defense issues in and out of the 02:08.350 --> 02:10.683 department in and out of the government . 02:10.683 --> 02:12.930 He spent 11 years almost in leadership 02:12.930 --> 02:15.208 positions in the Department of Defense , 02:15.540 --> 02:17.340 overseeing the welfare of the 02:17.340 --> 02:19.507 department but also the welfare of the 02:19.507 --> 02:21.507 men and women of this institution . 02:21.640 --> 02:24.230 He's also spent his outside D . O . D . 02:24.230 --> 02:27.090 Career working with issues of import to 02:27.090 --> 02:29.530 the department defense . So it is my 02:29.540 --> 02:31.830 distinct privilege to introduce a 02:31.830 --> 02:33.997 wonderful boss . Deputy secretary line 02:33.997 --> 02:37.650 sir . Thanks very much . 02:39.840 --> 02:42.590 Okay thanks thanks very much . Mr mayor 02:44.040 --> 02:47.750 say mike does a terrific job and 02:47.760 --> 02:50.520 uh when he can't avoid earthquakes , he 02:50.530 --> 02:52.910 deals well with them and the things 02:52.910 --> 02:56.240 that they cause and it's true tribute 02:56.240 --> 02:59.430 to him just how well this building 02:59.430 --> 03:01.890 functions and how smooth the transition 03:01.890 --> 03:04.770 has been as we've uh rehabilitated the 03:04.770 --> 03:07.210 pentagon over more than a decade and 03:07.220 --> 03:09.276 move people in and out . And I think 03:09.276 --> 03:11.640 it's uh truly seamless and much of that 03:11.640 --> 03:14.300 credit goes to uh microbes . So mike , 03:14.300 --> 03:16.980 thanks for everything that you do . I 03:16.990 --> 03:18.823 want to thank all of you for for 03:18.823 --> 03:20.768 joining us here in the in the 10th 03:20.768 --> 03:23.380 corridor to uh , pay a fitting tribute 03:23.390 --> 03:26.740 to one of the great organizations in 03:26.740 --> 03:30.070 this country , the U . S . O . For 70 03:30.070 --> 03:32.800 years . They have been supporting our 03:32.800 --> 03:36.560 troops wherever they go . Uh , I've 03:36.560 --> 03:38.671 personally , in the 90s when I was in 03:38.671 --> 03:41.030 the 90s , I personally seen the usos 03:41.040 --> 03:43.850 contributions in Kosovo and Afghan 03:43.860 --> 03:46.800 Kosovo and Bosnia . Then on on this 03:46.800 --> 03:50.670 tour in Afghanistan and Iraq and 03:50.680 --> 03:53.380 also the medical facilities , there are 03:53.390 --> 03:55.380 big presence at lawn stool and of 03:55.380 --> 03:58.810 course at Bethesda and just until 03:58.810 --> 04:01.610 recently walter reed is as well as Fort 04:01.610 --> 04:05.000 Belvoir and they they bring so much uh , 04:05.010 --> 04:07.700 to our troops and to their families . 04:07.710 --> 04:10.370 They're they're known for the celebrity 04:10.370 --> 04:12.370 tours that you see , starting going 04:12.370 --> 04:14.440 back to the era of bob hope . But 04:14.450 --> 04:16.672 that's certainly important morale boost 04:16.672 --> 04:18.617 that they still still do . And the 04:18.617 --> 04:20.728 chairman has been known to lead a few 04:20.728 --> 04:24.030 of those those trips , but they they 04:24.040 --> 04:26.350 do so much more in terms of care 04:26.350 --> 04:28.610 packages , phone , phone cards , 04:28.610 --> 04:30.721 whatever it is , the troops and their 04:30.721 --> 04:34.350 families need , I think is with the 04:35.040 --> 04:37.830 the leadership now of Sloan Gibson who 04:37.830 --> 04:39.886 in the last few years has taken over 04:39.886 --> 04:42.108 the leadership of us . So he's opened a 04:42.108 --> 04:45.440 new chapter . He's brought a business 04:45.440 --> 04:48.590 mind to the , to the leadership of of 04:48.590 --> 04:52.470 us . So , and he's brought a truly 04:52.470 --> 04:55.710 breathtaking fundraising ability with 04:55.790 --> 04:59.200 $100 million capital campaign in order 04:59.200 --> 05:01.490 to to build centers such as the new 05:01.490 --> 05:03.379 centers that are going in at Fort 05:03.379 --> 05:06.020 Belvoir and Bethesda that , as I said , 05:06.020 --> 05:08.930 I'm going to be a whole new chapter in 05:08.930 --> 05:11.760 the kind of support that you , the USO 05:11.760 --> 05:14.150 provides to our our military , men and 05:14.150 --> 05:16.920 women and their families . So it's , I 05:16.930 --> 05:19.097 think it's terrific that we're able to 05:19.097 --> 05:21.290 recognize uh , the USO with the 05:21.290 --> 05:23.179 corridor that you're about to see 05:23.179 --> 05:26.200 behind me in the recognize the seven 05:26.200 --> 05:29.330 decades of service that the USO has 05:29.330 --> 05:32.800 provided . And so I invite you uh to uh 05:32.810 --> 05:34.810 take a look at that . And again , a 05:34.810 --> 05:36.660 warm welcome to all of you and a 05:36.670 --> 05:38.990 terrific job to Sloan in the whole U . 05:38.990 --> 05:40.560 S . O . Team . Thank you . 05:44.140 --> 05:47.840 Yeah , recent . I will 05:47.840 --> 05:50.007 introduce our next speaker using a few 05:50.007 --> 05:52.580 numbers if I might . Yeah . Admiral 05:52.580 --> 05:54.524 Mullen is the 17th chairman of the 05:54.524 --> 05:57.240 joint chiefs of staff . During that . 05:57.250 --> 06:00.460 His tenure as the Chairman by the Count 06:00.460 --> 06:04.110 I have , he has led nine USO tours 2 06:04.110 --> 06:07.280 13 countries providing 06:07.290 --> 06:09.870 tremendous benefit to thousands upon 06:09.870 --> 06:12.037 thousands of service members and their 06:12.037 --> 06:14.620 families . He and his lovely wife , 06:14.630 --> 06:17.180 Deborah have taken care of military 06:17.180 --> 06:19.180 families . Nearly their whole lives 06:19.180 --> 06:22.750 quite frankly . He served 06:22.750 --> 06:25.160 previously as the 28th Chief of Naval 06:25.160 --> 06:28.680 Operations and the 32nd Vice Chief of 06:28.680 --> 06:31.550 Naval Operations , leading the world's 06:31.550 --> 06:35.340 greatest navy . He also , I 06:35.340 --> 06:38.430 think most impactful e has truly shown 06:38.430 --> 06:40.870 lifetime commitment . If you had 06:40.870 --> 06:42.926 together the four years at the Naval 06:42.926 --> 06:45.960 Academy and 43 years of service , 06:46.440 --> 06:49.710 active duty . This is a man who along 06:49.710 --> 06:51.654 with his wife have committed their 06:51.654 --> 06:53.920 lives to the men and women who serve in 06:53.920 --> 06:56.087 the uniform and the protection of this 06:56.087 --> 06:57.920 nation . So I present to you the 06:57.920 --> 07:00.087 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs , Admiral 07:00.087 --> 07:02.250 Mike mullen . Right . 07:04.140 --> 07:06.200 I think it's important to point out 07:06.200 --> 07:08.367 that actually when I went to the Naval 07:08.367 --> 07:10.478 Academy , I was only five years old . 07:10.478 --> 07:14.220 Okay to uh Deputy Secretary Lynn and 07:14.230 --> 07:17.660 uh mike , thanks for your both 07:17.670 --> 07:21.140 great work and comments . Kind 07:21.140 --> 07:23.140 comments and well deserved comments 07:23.140 --> 07:26.530 about the USO . I would first of all 07:26.530 --> 07:28.752 like to express my gratitude for all of 07:28.752 --> 07:30.752 those that made this possible . And 07:30.752 --> 07:32.808 there were many in the pentagon that 07:32.808 --> 07:35.030 did . That . I've been here for far too 07:35.030 --> 07:37.197 much of the renovation quite frankly . 07:37.197 --> 07:36.840 And there were a few years ago , we 07:36.840 --> 07:39.062 didn't know where anything was going to 07:39.062 --> 07:41.173 end up because we kept having to move 07:41.173 --> 07:44.240 from from one place to another . But 07:44.250 --> 07:46.520 now that the renovation is through and 07:46.520 --> 07:49.160 certainly most fitting that we 07:49.540 --> 07:52.830 recognized an organization that has 07:52.830 --> 07:55.052 truly made a difference in our people's 07:55.052 --> 07:57.450 lives . Um , and there is this 07:57.450 --> 08:00.150 association with tours and I'm not sure 08:00.150 --> 08:02.150 actually how many trips or how many 08:02.150 --> 08:04.317 countries uh we've Deb and I have been 08:04.317 --> 08:06.750 blessed to be overseas with those 08:06.750 --> 08:09.760 entertainers and stars and athletes 08:09.760 --> 08:11.970 that give up their time . And what is 08:11.970 --> 08:14.137 most precious about that is just to be 08:14.137 --> 08:16.359 halfway around the world and to see for 08:16.359 --> 08:19.660 a moment the smiles on our men and 08:19.660 --> 08:21.716 women's faces that these individuals 08:21.716 --> 08:24.400 bring to them . But what often times 08:24.400 --> 08:26.622 does the story that doesn't get told is 08:26.622 --> 08:28.733 how those , those individuals , their 08:28.733 --> 08:31.460 lives have changed forever . They learn 08:31.460 --> 08:33.349 about us in ways that they didn't 08:33.349 --> 08:35.330 expect . And they really do . They 08:35.340 --> 08:38.040 really have made a huge huge difference . 08:38.040 --> 08:40.790 But it's the USO is so much more than 08:40.790 --> 08:43.620 that . Um , and uh , they've been the U . 08:43.620 --> 08:45.720 S . Has been at the heart of the 08:45.720 --> 08:47.910 challenges with our wounded , our 08:47.910 --> 08:51.680 medical challenges uh , from day one 08:51.680 --> 08:54.090 when these wars started and has made 08:54.090 --> 08:56.410 such a difference there as well . So 08:56.410 --> 08:58.670 I'm grateful for the privilege really 08:58.670 --> 09:01.230 that we've had and to participate with 09:01.230 --> 09:03.570 the USO during these extraordinarily 09:03.570 --> 09:05.950 challenging times . And look to a 09:05.950 --> 09:08.061 bright , bright future of partnership 09:08.061 --> 09:10.730 between the pentagon mostly our men and 09:10.730 --> 09:13.450 women and families . Uh , and and the 09:13.460 --> 09:16.670 USO itself , I often times talk about 09:16.670 --> 09:19.250 change because the world is changing 09:19.250 --> 09:22.100 fast . We've changed fast in these wars . 09:22.110 --> 09:24.870 Uh , and despite this association with 09:24.870 --> 09:27.480 bob hope , which goes back a long way , 09:27.480 --> 09:29.810 which is a great association . One of 09:29.810 --> 09:31.921 the things that I've watched over the 09:31.921 --> 09:34.032 course of the last four years as I've 09:34.032 --> 09:36.199 watched the USO change and and look to 09:36.199 --> 09:38.421 what It could do for the future and the 09:38.421 --> 09:40.600 $100 million dollar capital campaign 09:40.610 --> 09:43.850 plan is a signature event with respect 09:43.850 --> 09:47.130 to that or opportunity . But there are 09:47.130 --> 09:49.460 many other things that they have done 09:49.460 --> 09:51.700 to get support in theater , actually 09:51.700 --> 09:54.600 get support around the world . We do 09:54.600 --> 09:56.822 focus on these trips to Afghanistan and 09:56.822 --> 09:59.044 Iraq , but quite frankly , the USO goes 09:59.044 --> 10:02.100 all over the globe to engage our men 10:02.100 --> 10:04.350 and women in uniform and we are 10:04.440 --> 10:07.890 eternally grateful for that . So I've 10:07.890 --> 10:10.070 been impressed with how the USO has 10:10.070 --> 10:12.630 both assessed itself , look to what it 10:12.630 --> 10:14.852 needs to do in the future and it's on a 10:14.852 --> 10:17.730 great , great uh , glide slope if you 10:17.730 --> 10:19.940 will , uh , with a , with a terrific 10:19.940 --> 10:22.830 vision and a terrific plan . And , and 10:22.830 --> 10:24.830 I know from the pentagon standpoint 10:24.830 --> 10:26.941 continuing to be a part of that and a 10:26.941 --> 10:29.090 partner in that is something we very 10:29.090 --> 10:31.034 much look forward to . The words , 10:31.034 --> 10:33.312 words can't capture all the difference , 10:33.312 --> 10:35.479 the difference that the USO has made . 10:35.479 --> 10:37.368 It's just to say that and it's an 10:37.368 --> 10:39.590 incredibly dedicated group of people at 10:39.590 --> 10:42.050 the USO headed up by an extraordinary 10:42.050 --> 10:44.670 individual who I watched come in change 10:44.670 --> 10:47.100 the model . It was time move forward in 10:47.100 --> 10:49.660 a way that represents where we all need 10:49.660 --> 10:51.827 to be going in the future with respect 10:51.827 --> 10:53.882 to our men and women and support for 10:53.882 --> 10:57.610 them in incredibly concrete ways that 10:57.610 --> 11:00.170 make a difference in their lives . So 11:00.170 --> 11:02.740 it's uh , it's uh , it's always a treat 11:02.740 --> 11:06.580 to be around Sloan Located from day 11:06.580 --> 11:08.380 one . He's a bright , capable , 11:08.380 --> 11:11.450 dedicated , successful individual who 11:11.450 --> 11:14.490 essentially , uh , has taken years out 11:14.490 --> 11:16.601 of his life now to come and do this , 11:16.601 --> 11:18.712 uh , and really make a difference and 11:18.712 --> 11:20.712 we're grateful for that . So , uh , 11:20.712 --> 11:22.934 again , thanks thanks for the work that 11:22.934 --> 11:25.157 went into this dedication . Uh , will , 11:25.157 --> 11:27.323 will chair all of us in the pentagon , 11:27.323 --> 11:29.657 Will cherish it . Thanks again to the U . 11:29.657 --> 11:31.879 S . O . And all the difference that the 11:31.879 --> 11:33.990 US has made us so is made for so many 11:33.990 --> 11:36.770 years . Uh , and it is , uh , it's a 11:36.770 --> 11:38.881 real treat and I don't know if I am I 11:38.881 --> 11:40.992 supposed to introduce so , okay , the 11:40.992 --> 11:43.103 mayor is going to do this , but Sloan 11:43.103 --> 11:45.326 to you and to your whole organization . 11:45.326 --> 11:48.090 We are , we are incredibly grateful and 11:48.090 --> 11:50.110 we look forward to a long term 11:50.110 --> 11:52.277 sustained relationship which just gets 11:52.277 --> 11:53.550 better and better . Thank you .