WEBVTT 00:00.140 --> 00:03.350 Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen . 00:03.360 --> 00:05.950 Welcome to the promotion ceremony and 00:05.960 --> 00:08.920 honor of Muslim Michael Merman . As 00:08.920 --> 00:11.550 part of today's ceremony , Mr Merman 00:11.560 --> 00:14.240 will be promoted to tear to within the 00:14.240 --> 00:17.380 Senior Executive Service in recognition 00:17.390 --> 00:19.430 of his demonstrated performance and 00:19.430 --> 00:22.230 potential for increased responsibility . 00:22.240 --> 00:24.670 He has appointed to the position of the 00:24.670 --> 00:27.540 director of Resource is our host for 00:27.540 --> 00:29.790 today's ceremony . Is the deputy chief 00:29.790 --> 00:32.260 of staff G eight Lieutenant General 00:32.270 --> 00:35.210 James passed a red please stand for the 00:35.210 --> 00:37.570 arrival of official party remain 00:37.570 --> 00:40.080 standing for the national anthem some 00:40.080 --> 00:43.460 by Major egger Kenyans followed by the 00:43.470 --> 00:46.360 invocation delivered by Chaplin Brain 01:02.340 --> 01:05.930 Oh , sick on 01:05.940 --> 01:09.930 you see my 01:09.940 --> 01:13.380 dawn's early 01:13.380 --> 01:16.350 light What so 01:16.360 --> 01:18.980 proudly we 01:18.980 --> 01:21.640 hailed at the 01:21.650 --> 01:25.600 twilights less leaving 01:25.610 --> 01:29.020 whose broad stripes on bright 01:29.020 --> 01:32.710 stores through the bear 01:32.710 --> 01:35.850 runners fight 01:36.140 --> 01:39.620 for the rep way 01:39.620 --> 01:42.360 wash were so 01:42.360 --> 01:46.160 Gallagher , please Creepy 01:46.440 --> 01:48.400 on the rockets 01:48.410 --> 01:51.850 A 01:51.860 --> 01:55.570 clothes Burstein feeding 01:55.580 --> 01:59.120 a gay proof 01:59.130 --> 02:02.890 through the night that are 02:02.900 --> 02:05.300 flat waas it 02:05.310 --> 02:08.760 over full say , 02:08.770 --> 02:12.760 does that star spangled 02:12.760 --> 02:18.350 way 02:18.840 --> 02:22.100 for the land of the 02:22.110 --> 02:24.030 free on 02:24.030 --> 02:27.430 with 02:27.430 --> 02:30.060 pray 02:45.240 --> 02:46.350 and let us pray 02:48.340 --> 02:50.770 gracious and almighty God , we know 02:50.770 --> 02:53.760 that your eyes will the sparrow and we 02:53.760 --> 02:55.760 know that you've been watching Mike 02:55.760 --> 02:58.690 Merman . Throughout many years , you 02:58.700 --> 03:00.478 watched him grow up , raised by 03:00.478 --> 03:03.940 wonderful parents , watched him give 03:03.940 --> 03:06.110 birth to his own family that he and 03:06.110 --> 03:08.640 Tony have raised . And even though we 03:08.640 --> 03:12.000 may be apart , separated as it is , 03:12.010 --> 03:14.121 we're thankful for larger spirit that 03:14.121 --> 03:16.860 binds us together . We have thanks for 03:16.860 --> 03:19.082 Have you walked with him throughout his 03:19.082 --> 03:21.304 years when he was aware and , like many 03:21.304 --> 03:23.082 of us went unaware of your body 03:23.082 --> 03:25.249 presence ? It's your presence that has 03:25.249 --> 03:27.193 sustained him in all assignments , 03:27.193 --> 03:31.130 challenges and triumphs . Gracious 03:31.130 --> 03:33.352 God . Mike's work is rooted in biblical 03:33.352 --> 03:36.130 history . He puts into practice the 03:36.130 --> 03:39.370 meaning of stewardship , responsibility 03:39.840 --> 03:42.920 and accountability . And we're grateful , 03:42.920 --> 03:44.976 dear God , that might never bury the 03:44.976 --> 03:48.230 talents that you gave to him . He uses 03:48.230 --> 03:51.020 them daily and improves upon them each 03:51.020 --> 03:54.140 moment of his day . And I'm sure there 03:54.140 --> 03:56.600 are moments when his work ethic causes 03:56.600 --> 03:59.300 people to stew . When he does practice 03:59.300 --> 04:02.100 good stewardship , we appreciate his 04:02.100 --> 04:04.211 attention to financial detail . We're 04:04.211 --> 04:06.570 grateful for his personal manner that 04:06.570 --> 04:08.792 sustains friendships as well as working 04:08.792 --> 04:11.330 relationships . He is a person that 04:11.330 --> 04:13.930 projects kindness , care and compassion , 04:14.190 --> 04:16.412 and for that we're grateful and perhaps 04:16.412 --> 04:18.800 the greatest miracle of all is knowing 04:18.800 --> 04:21.420 a numbers person with a personality 04:21.430 --> 04:23.374 that's truly something fruits were 04:23.374 --> 04:25.620 thankful . Eso Lord , please give him 04:25.620 --> 04:28.260 the wisdom to see an act when there's a 04:28.270 --> 04:30.048 debit in the column of domestic 04:30.048 --> 04:32.800 happiness . May has worked , never 04:32.800 --> 04:35.200 erode that solid foundation of family 04:35.210 --> 04:38.390 life . And so we're thankful to be part 04:38.390 --> 04:41.280 of this moment in his career and ask 04:41.280 --> 04:43.391 you to bless him and Tony as this new 04:43.391 --> 04:46.210 level of responsibility begins before 04:46.210 --> 04:48.377 we offer this prayer and most precious 04:48.377 --> 04:49.377 name . Amen . 04:57.740 --> 05:00.580 Thank you . Major Kenyans and Chaplain 05:00.580 --> 05:02.920 Brandt . Ladies and gentlemen , please 05:02.930 --> 05:06.570 be seated . The Senior Executive 05:06.570 --> 05:10.130 Service Lead America's Workforce as the 05:10.130 --> 05:12.620 keystone of the Civil Service Reform 05:12.630 --> 05:16.170 Act of 1978 . The Senior Executive 05:16.170 --> 05:19.410 Service was established to ensure that 05:19.420 --> 05:21.198 the executive management of the 05:21.198 --> 05:23.180 government of the United States is 05:23.180 --> 05:26.440 responsive to the needs , policies and 05:26.440 --> 05:30.150 goals of the nation and otherwise is 05:30.160 --> 05:33.200 off the highest quality . These leaders 05:33.200 --> 05:36.400 possess well home executive skills and 05:36.400 --> 05:39.820 share a broad perspective on government 05:39.830 --> 05:43.140 and a public service commitment that is 05:43.140 --> 05:46.610 grounded and the Constitution . Members 05:46.620 --> 05:49.030 of the Senior Executive Service served 05:49.040 --> 05:52.300 in the key positions just below the top 05:52.300 --> 05:55.020 presidential appointees , Senior 05:55.030 --> 05:57.252 Executive Service members are the major 05:57.252 --> 05:59.850 link between these appointees and the 05:59.850 --> 06:02.540 rest of the federal workforce . They 06:02.550 --> 06:05.530 operate and oversee nearly every 06:05.530 --> 06:08.580 government activity and approximately 06:08.590 --> 06:12.370 75 federal agencies . Ladies and 06:12.370 --> 06:15.010 gentlemen , I now present to you 06:15.020 --> 06:17.570 today's ceremony holes . Lieutenant 06:17.570 --> 06:19.760 General James past . Correct . 06:23.740 --> 06:26.000 All right , well , thanks , George . So 06:26.010 --> 06:28.750 good at that . Isn't wasting time in 06:28.750 --> 06:31.750 the Army . Get a job doing that for , 06:31.750 --> 06:33.972 really ? Let's give our national anthem 06:33.972 --> 06:34.972 singing around , 06:34.972 --> 06:39.360 e 06:39.370 --> 06:41.481 going upstairs to grab a couple of my 06:41.481 --> 06:43.481 coins . I'll get you one when we're 06:43.481 --> 06:45.648 done . But that was special . Thanks . 06:45.648 --> 06:47.620 It takes guts doing that . Uh So , 06:47.620 --> 06:49.910 listen , um , welcome to another 06:50.020 --> 06:52.190 ceremony here in the age of Covic . 06:52.430 --> 06:55.660 These air so different in these worlds . 06:56.240 --> 06:58.351 Well , then , all the restrictions we 06:58.351 --> 07:00.573 have to live by today . It's smart that 07:00.573 --> 07:02.740 we're doing it this way , given what's 07:02.740 --> 07:04.962 going on in our world . But I'm glad we 07:04.962 --> 07:04.840 did it all the same . It be really easy 07:04.840 --> 07:07.007 to kind of say , push this off and not 07:07.007 --> 07:09.229 do it . I wish we all could be together 07:09.229 --> 07:11.396 here . I know we have folks around the 07:11.396 --> 07:13.910 country tuned in to celebrate this 07:13.910 --> 07:16.300 promotion of Mike family and others 07:16.300 --> 07:18.300 that are recognized in a little bit 07:18.300 --> 07:20.300 right now . But I wish you could be 07:20.300 --> 07:22.522 here in this special room . The Hall of 07:22.522 --> 07:24.578 Heroes or every American that's been 07:24.578 --> 07:26.578 awarded the Medal of Honor is up on 07:26.578 --> 07:28.800 these walls around me . Can't see him . 07:28.800 --> 07:30.911 I've been in a couple of ceremonies . 07:30.911 --> 07:33.133 Way actually . Put another name on here 07:33.133 --> 07:35.244 when we had the ceremony for somebody 07:35.244 --> 07:37.189 that earned that highest award our 07:37.189 --> 07:39.244 nation , we are limited to only 10 . 07:39.244 --> 07:41.133 People here in person were pretty 07:41.133 --> 07:43.300 strict about that . We've just changed 07:43.300 --> 07:45.522 within the army of the standards . So I 07:45.522 --> 07:47.522 appreciate everybody complying with 07:47.522 --> 07:49.633 that . I've done several ceremony . I 07:49.633 --> 07:49.260 don't know . Probably six or seven 07:49.260 --> 07:51.760 ceremonies since I've been the G eight . 07:52.140 --> 07:54.390 Did Marguerite tricks retirement ? If 07:54.390 --> 07:56.279 you did , Marguerite , she was an 07:56.279 --> 07:58.279 institution . We stood down the QDR 07:58.279 --> 08:00.279 office , oversaw that both of those 08:00.279 --> 08:02.390 These rooms were packed . You could . 08:02.390 --> 08:04.557 There were people in the back for your 08:04.557 --> 08:06.779 back there trying to see to the front . 08:06.779 --> 08:09.112 So to see it today , the way it is , um , 08:09.112 --> 08:11.223 it's a little bit different , but all 08:11.223 --> 08:13.390 the same just as important . Everybody 08:13.390 --> 08:15.446 out here you may have seen heard the 08:15.446 --> 08:17.610 sayings out there . It's darkest just 08:17.620 --> 08:20.850 before dawn onto the pessimists . Who 08:20.850 --> 08:22.906 is my middle son ? He likes to say . 08:22.906 --> 08:25.072 It's darkest just before it goes pitch 08:25.072 --> 08:27.170 black . But actually , I've been an 08:27.180 --> 08:29.402 optimist all my life . I like to saying 08:29.402 --> 08:31.458 that Dark , It's darkest just before 08:31.458 --> 08:34.460 dawn . I believe we are on the edge of 08:34.470 --> 08:36.470 that Don . We've been going through 08:36.470 --> 08:38.581 this covert thing for so long . We've 08:38.581 --> 08:40.637 had the ebbs and flows of it . We're 08:40.637 --> 08:42.859 definitely down in a bottom point right 08:42.859 --> 08:45.081 now , but I hope we all are hoping that 08:45.440 --> 08:47.630 warp speed sees it through . We get 08:47.630 --> 08:49.840 this vaccine , we continue to do the 08:49.840 --> 08:52.173 right things . As individuals out there , 08:52.173 --> 08:54.396 we push through and get to the far side 08:54.396 --> 08:56.451 of this thing , another great saying 08:56.451 --> 08:58.562 and it's not . It's been a tribute to 08:58.562 --> 08:57.860 the Bible , but I don't know if it 08:57.860 --> 09:00.027 really is . It's like this , too shall 09:00.027 --> 09:02.290 pass . That's something I think that's 09:02.290 --> 09:04.234 with where we are . Sometimes when 09:04.234 --> 09:06.290 you're in something like this in the 09:06.290 --> 09:06.170 middle of it , you think it's just the 09:06.170 --> 09:08.170 condition for the rest of your life 09:08.170 --> 09:10.392 you're gonna be stuck with once it goes 09:10.392 --> 09:12.614 on for a while , I went through that as 09:12.614 --> 09:14.837 a young officer with a physical problem 09:14.837 --> 09:16.948 ahead is a lieutenant . I had to tell 09:16.948 --> 09:19.003 myself that that is gonna pass . But 09:19.003 --> 09:21.114 when you're in the middle of it , you 09:21.114 --> 09:20.660 just think , Wow , I'm stuck for the 09:20.660 --> 09:22.800 rest of my life . So I'm confident , 09:22.800 --> 09:24.990 though , that this too will pass and 09:24.990 --> 09:26.990 the don is gonna come . It won't be 09:26.990 --> 09:29.101 back . Toe have in this room , Phil . 09:29.101 --> 09:31.620 Sometime , whenever on the conditions 09:31.620 --> 09:33.898 get back to where we all want it to be . 09:33.898 --> 09:37.470 Yeah , So today , here we are gathered 09:37.690 --> 09:39.920 in a small group , a large group out in 09:39.920 --> 09:43.650 VTC land to promote . Finally , 09:43.890 --> 09:46.860 Mike Berman , the senior executive 09:46.870 --> 09:50.100 service , Tier two . Hey , assumed the 09:50.100 --> 09:52.267 position back in June in the middle of 09:52.267 --> 09:55.450 this covert stuff . My deputy , Dave 09:55.450 --> 09:57.394 Markowitz , Dave just popped in my 09:57.394 --> 09:59.561 office . He's driving home right now , 09:59.561 --> 10:01.672 so he's gonna have to miss this , but 10:01.672 --> 10:03.617 he passes on his congratulations , 10:03.617 --> 10:05.839 daddy . Okay , thanks , But they was my 10:05.839 --> 10:08.570 former deputy G eight a tier three , 10:09.340 --> 10:11.618 and he talked to me back in May in May , 10:11.618 --> 10:13.990 right when we had Eric had selected , 10:14.000 --> 10:17.710 uh , Mike about doing a promotion 10:17.710 --> 10:19.932 ceremony and making a big deal about it 10:19.932 --> 10:22.154 because it is a big deal to be selected 10:22.154 --> 10:25.060 the Tier two . But with all the comings 10:25.060 --> 10:27.171 and goings and friction and dizziness 10:27.171 --> 10:29.338 and stuff , it totally slipped through 10:29.338 --> 10:31.560 the cracks until Dave about a month ago 10:31.560 --> 10:33.671 said , Hey , did we ever promote Mike 10:33.671 --> 10:35.838 Merman ? And I was embarrassed . I say 10:35.838 --> 10:38.004 no , Mike just had his head down doing 10:38.004 --> 10:40.060 great things for us . And although I 10:40.060 --> 10:42.227 committed to do this when they brought 10:42.227 --> 10:44.282 it up , I let it slip through . So I 10:44.282 --> 10:46.282 apologize that this is a little bit 10:46.282 --> 10:48.449 awkward . Timing wise , we should have 10:48.449 --> 10:50.671 done this a while ago , But again , I'm 10:50.671 --> 10:52.782 happy we're doing this with the group 10:52.782 --> 10:54.760 here today . Uhh ! On Mike's been 10:54.760 --> 10:57.420 selected as the director resource is on . 10:57.420 --> 10:59.690 Also the deputy to Major General Eric 10:59.700 --> 11:02.810 Peterson . He's made it a significant 11:02.810 --> 11:05.032 difference to me in the short period of 11:05.032 --> 11:07.254 time . We've been here with us today is 11:07.254 --> 11:09.760 Tony , his wife of 28 years ? 11:10.610 --> 11:12.388 Um , they met back in the early 11:12.388 --> 11:16.370 nineties when Mike was serving at 11:16.380 --> 11:18.491 pants . Come Air Force Base Place . I 11:18.491 --> 11:20.690 want Thio did it ? I was in school up 11:20.690 --> 11:22.801 in Boston , one tour we used to go to 11:22.801 --> 11:25.023 the hands , come to the commissary as a 11:25.023 --> 11:27.246 captain there and when Boston's not the 11:27.246 --> 11:29.468 cheapest place . And so we go out there 11:29.468 --> 11:31.634 and stock up for what we needed when I 11:31.634 --> 11:33.801 just 29 year old with a baby . So it's 11:33.801 --> 11:35.912 probably about the same time you guys 11:35.912 --> 11:38.023 were up there and you met , uh , Mike 11:38.023 --> 11:39.912 had befriended Tony . She was the 11:39.912 --> 11:41.968 tightest , as I understand it pretty 11:41.968 --> 11:43.968 good at it . He's trying to get his 11:43.968 --> 11:46.079 products in there to get to the front 11:46.079 --> 11:48.660 of the line on do that . But from there 11:48.670 --> 11:51.020 it blossomed . And , of course , hey , 11:51.020 --> 11:53.850 saw they fell in love , got married . 11:53.860 --> 11:56.260 Today , Tony works as a type . Is that 11:56.260 --> 11:58.427 George Mason ? Is that right now ? I'm 11:58.427 --> 12:00.482 sorry . It's actually as a financial 12:00.482 --> 12:02.704 specialist out there , and we just were 12:02.704 --> 12:04.871 catching up on that thing . She's done 12:04.871 --> 12:07.149 what ? You're kind of unique out there . 12:07.149 --> 12:09.371 But Tony , thanks for everything you've 12:09.371 --> 12:11.260 done and the support of Mike over 12:11.260 --> 12:13.482 almost three decades . I'm sure when he 12:13.482 --> 12:15.593 makes some remarks he committed of it 12:15.593 --> 12:17.704 will be about you . Some other family 12:17.704 --> 12:21.650 that's out there first . One that's not 12:21.650 --> 12:23.910 is there , son Dylan , who is a 12:23.910 --> 12:26.270 freshman at Old Dominion . He is , I 12:26.270 --> 12:28.270 think , not tuned in I believe . Is 12:28.270 --> 12:31.760 that correct ? We're not sure . Okay . 12:31.770 --> 12:34.103 So , Dylan , hopefully you're out there . 12:34.103 --> 12:35.937 If not , you could maybe catch a 12:35.937 --> 12:37.992 recording or something . Obviously , 12:37.992 --> 12:40.270 they're very proud of him as a student . 12:40.270 --> 12:42.326 Down there is a freshman , and so do 12:42.326 --> 12:42.190 you . And he's coming in for the 12:42.190 --> 12:44.246 holidays . And they're excited about 12:44.246 --> 12:46.523 that . And then , But also , I believe , 12:46.523 --> 12:48.412 are tuned in . Or Dick and Marine 12:48.412 --> 12:50.710 Merman . Uh , that's Mike's father and 12:50.710 --> 12:53.150 his stepmother . Dick is a retired 12:53.150 --> 12:55.150 civil engineer , as I understand it 12:55.150 --> 12:57.230 that it says he built buildings . Is 12:57.230 --> 12:59.341 that right ? So wow . Okay , got it . 12:59.341 --> 13:01.950 Pretty simple . But Dick , thanks for 13:01.950 --> 13:04.006 raising a great son . I know you are 13:04.006 --> 13:06.172 especially proud today to see your son 13:06.172 --> 13:09.340 up here to get promoted . Also is Marge 13:09.610 --> 13:11.950 Corriere e the press that correct . 13:12.340 --> 13:14.507 She's here in the local area . She's a 13:14.507 --> 13:16.507 retired high school English teacher 13:16.507 --> 13:18.562 here in Arlington . So again , march 13:18.562 --> 13:20.970 again for both the parents . Mike is 13:20.970 --> 13:23.590 the product of good parenting . And so 13:23.600 --> 13:25.711 you should be proud to see where your 13:25.711 --> 13:27.933 son is today . Supporting his nation as 13:27.933 --> 13:31.480 a civil servant on . Then we have his , 13:31.490 --> 13:34.460 uh , sister Sharon is out there . And 13:34.460 --> 13:37.250 also a brother Mike . And so a siblings 13:37.250 --> 13:39.139 out there and all the support you 13:39.139 --> 13:41.028 provided , Mike , over the year . 13:41.028 --> 13:40.980 Thanks for taking the time to tune in 13:40.980 --> 13:43.510 from afar , Where every rat We're a 13:43.510 --> 13:45.066 Sharon . Do you think today 13:45.066 --> 13:47.950 Massachusetts . And how about Mike ? Uh , 13:47.960 --> 13:50.127 Jersey . Jersey . Okay . Well , thanks 13:50.127 --> 13:53.970 again from points north . Um , 13:54.640 --> 13:57.260 so not sure . 13:58.940 --> 14:00.850 All of you know this or not , but 14:00.860 --> 14:03.230 really might never He's been in the 14:03.240 --> 14:05.490 He's been a civil servant supporting 14:05.490 --> 14:07.546 the Department of Defense for a long 14:07.546 --> 14:09.601 time . But it wasn't until he came . 14:09.601 --> 14:11.823 Worked for Eric that he actually joined 14:11.823 --> 14:14.950 the regular army . Um , he had most of 14:14.950 --> 14:16.894 his time , is in the Air Force . I 14:16.894 --> 14:18.894 walked through that , then he was a 14:18.894 --> 14:18.730 little bit of time with the Army 14:18.730 --> 14:20.960 National Guard , but now he's actually 14:20.960 --> 14:23.990 working for the regular army here , but 14:23.990 --> 14:26.400 his ties do go back a long time . To 14:26.400 --> 14:28.511 the to the army , all the way back to 14:28.511 --> 14:30.678 high school . When he went to Cornwall 14:30.678 --> 14:32.844 High School just outside very near the 14:32.844 --> 14:35.122 West Point . I didn't go to West Point , 14:35.122 --> 14:37.122 perhaps , and guys tuning in with G 14:37.122 --> 14:39.178 eight . It's out there , but he sold 14:39.178 --> 14:41.289 hot dogs up . Mikey stadium as a high 14:41.289 --> 14:43.511 school are back in the early eighties , 14:43.511 --> 14:45.622 making some money on the weekend . So 14:45.622 --> 14:47.789 he had an initial ties to the Army way 14:47.789 --> 14:50.011 back when , before he even was thinking 14:50.011 --> 14:52.178 about that . And actually , he went on 14:52.178 --> 14:54.240 the Northeastern University . That's 14:54.240 --> 14:56.351 where he got his undergraduate degree 14:56.440 --> 14:58.780 and interesting in his early on in that 14:58.790 --> 15:00.957 tour there , there's a coop deal there 15:00.957 --> 15:03.068 at Northeastern and Mike started as a 15:03.068 --> 15:05.068 GS three in the United States . Air 15:05.068 --> 15:07.234 Force out of hand scum learning how to 15:07.234 --> 15:09.401 be He was a student training basically 15:09.401 --> 15:13.230 So gs three all the way up here to tear 15:13.250 --> 15:16.590 tear to pretty amazing span of 15:16.600 --> 15:19.250 promotions and areas of responsibility . 15:20.440 --> 15:23.910 Um , but for the next 33 years , Mike 15:23.920 --> 15:25.976 was in the United States Air Force , 15:25.976 --> 15:28.160 serving all over the place . He was 15:28.540 --> 15:30.500 primarily in budget and financial 15:30.500 --> 15:32.350 management kind of areas of 15:32.350 --> 15:34.640 responsibility , but he served several 15:34.640 --> 15:36.751 different jobs . That handsome one of 15:36.751 --> 15:39.380 those where he met his wife , Tony . He 15:39.380 --> 15:41.324 served at Maxwell Air Force Base , 15:41.324 --> 15:43.380 Kirkland Air Force Base . And that's 15:43.380 --> 15:45.324 the New Mexico , I think . Is that 15:45.324 --> 15:47.491 right ? Peterson Air Force Base out in 15:47.491 --> 15:49.769 Colorado , I spent a tour out that way . 15:49.769 --> 15:51.880 Bright Paterson . My parents lived in 15:51.880 --> 15:53.824 Dayton back in the day , so I know 15:53.824 --> 15:55.824 where that's out of into the museum 15:55.824 --> 15:58.047 there . Warner Robins down in Georgia . 15:58.650 --> 16:00.650 Pentagon . Several tours coming and 16:00.650 --> 16:03.330 going . One of them with OSD doing 16:03.340 --> 16:05.507 something for what was your OSD tour ? 16:05.507 --> 16:07.507 It was the warrior . That's right . 16:07.507 --> 16:09.673 Yeah . Very honorable service . Yeah , 16:09.940 --> 16:12.162 And then he also is a nightcap graduate 16:12.620 --> 16:16.060 class of 2010 . That's right . He is . 16:16.060 --> 16:18.171 I understand he's undergrad . Beat up 16:18.171 --> 16:19.949 General Gingerich , one of your 16:19.949 --> 16:22.171 classmates and the academic performance 16:22.171 --> 16:24.338 there . So I mean , he was selected in 16:24.338 --> 16:26.504 that course of time when he worked for 16:26.504 --> 16:28.616 the Air Force . He was selected for a 16:28.616 --> 16:31.700 Tier One SCS job back in March of 2016 16:31.710 --> 16:34.370 right pack , where he was the deputy 16:34.370 --> 16:36.426 director of financial management for 16:36.426 --> 16:39.080 Air Force Material Command . So that's 16:39.080 --> 16:41.136 where he first went to the executive 16:41.136 --> 16:43.136 level operation or responsibilities 16:43.136 --> 16:46.800 about four plus years ago . So 16:46.810 --> 16:48.699 Mike was selected to be the chief 16:48.699 --> 16:50.643 financial officer . Then , at that 16:50.643 --> 16:52.588 point at the end of that tour , or 16:52.588 --> 16:55.030 while he was there , Chief CFO for the 16:55.030 --> 16:57.790 Army National Guard and where he served 16:57.800 --> 17:00.650 from October of 17 until June 21 . 17:01.440 --> 17:03.496 General Peterson picked him up to be 17:03.496 --> 17:06.080 his deputy . But it was in that 17:06.080 --> 17:08.247 position when Mike was working for the 17:08.247 --> 17:10.358 National Guard that I first met him . 17:10.358 --> 17:12.358 Ah , and that's when I was in the G 17:12.358 --> 17:14.469 eight here . And he is either in Iraq 17:14.469 --> 17:16.524 or during the Palm build or the deep 17:16.524 --> 17:18.636 dives or Mike was this guy at the end 17:18.636 --> 17:21.320 of the table . Who was this kind of 17:21.320 --> 17:24.060 this nap here ? That kind of reminded 17:24.060 --> 17:26.800 me that Hey , this is the equities in 17:26.800 --> 17:28.840 the responsibilities and our our 17:28.840 --> 17:30.951 position in the Army National Guard . 17:31.140 --> 17:32.807 And so he did a very good job 17:32.807 --> 17:35.029 representing that always professional , 17:35.029 --> 17:36.918 but always sometimes a little bit 17:36.918 --> 17:39.084 different than we originally thought . 17:39.084 --> 17:38.930 But he kept us honest , which was very 17:38.930 --> 17:40.819 important as we were making these 17:40.819 --> 17:42.840 really hard decisions . Now , Rich 17:42.840 --> 17:45.120 Johnson , Major General Johnson , he 17:45.130 --> 17:47.352 wrote , uh , some thoughts , which I'll 17:47.352 --> 17:49.750 read at this point . Mike's , uh , a 17:49.760 --> 17:52.038 job that he did for the National Guard , 17:52.038 --> 17:54.260 the Army National Guard during his time 17:54.260 --> 17:56.038 there , and his riches personal 17:56.038 --> 17:58.260 thoughts on it . So I'm just gonna read 17:58.260 --> 18:00.593 his thoughts . His , uh , comments here . 18:00.593 --> 18:02.816 Congratulations , Mike . We really miss 18:02.816 --> 18:05.093 you . We were working hard to keep him , 18:05.093 --> 18:07.149 but we couldn't convert the position 18:07.149 --> 18:09.371 from a 1 to 2 star SCS quickly enough . 18:09.371 --> 18:11.650 But Mike Mike was just not patient 18:11.650 --> 18:13.817 enough , and he grabbed onto the first 18:13.817 --> 18:15.872 good offer . Hey , could find he was 18:15.872 --> 18:18.500 gone . But on a serious note , Mike is 18:18.500 --> 18:20.970 just so competent and adaptable . He 18:20.970 --> 18:23.192 had the most knowledge of anyone I ever 18:23.192 --> 18:25.359 met . Even though he spent 30 years in 18:25.359 --> 18:27.081 the Air Force , he established 18:27.081 --> 18:29.303 procedures and quickly became an expert 18:29.303 --> 18:31.880 of the pegs and Palm process , and it 18:31.880 --> 18:34.470 made him an excellent adviser . The 18:34.470 --> 18:37.280 position of CF CFO was created , and 18:37.280 --> 18:39.113 Mike was the first person in the 18:39.113 --> 18:41.224 position . But Mike created that what 18:41.224 --> 18:44.270 the position has become today . First 18:44.280 --> 18:47.150 as a guard tier one SCS , he was appear 18:47.160 --> 18:49.160 with with other functional one star 18:49.160 --> 18:50.993 directors , and he also directly 18:50.993 --> 18:53.260 advised the three star director and 18:53.260 --> 18:55.316 deputy director of the Army National 18:55.316 --> 18:57.620 Guard . The Army National Guard has a 18:57.620 --> 19:00.010 unique set of circumstances , does not 19:00.010 --> 19:02.010 have direct tasking authority , but 19:02.010 --> 19:04.140 does distribute funding to the 54 19:04.140 --> 19:07.020 states and territory Guard forces . It 19:07.020 --> 19:09.350 is like herding cats . Mike made 19:09.350 --> 19:11.572 transparent the problems of running the 19:11.572 --> 19:13.572 Army National National Guard , both 19:13.572 --> 19:15.739 within the Guard and outside as well . 19:16.040 --> 19:18.230 He professionalized . Excuse me . He 19:18.230 --> 19:20.174 professionalized our budgeting and 19:20.174 --> 19:22.397 programming programming and put us on a 19:22.397 --> 19:24.810 better footing . After only a few years . 19:24.820 --> 19:27.000 The senior SCS is considered the CSS 19:27.010 --> 19:29.760 CFO position to be a key developmental 19:29.770 --> 19:32.850 position for the SCS community . Best 19:32.850 --> 19:34.906 of luck going forward . Mike again , 19:34.906 --> 19:36.794 That's from Rich Johnson's A rich 19:36.794 --> 19:38.794 thanks for probably tuning in , but 19:38.794 --> 19:42.080 that was heartfelt . I appreciate so 19:42.080 --> 19:44.247 again late this spring , I do remember 19:44.247 --> 19:47.540 the day Eric came into my office . Big 19:47.540 --> 19:49.990 smile on the space . He said he had 19:49.990 --> 19:52.323 selected Mike to be his deputy director . 19:52.323 --> 19:54.379 I still remember that , and Mike and 19:54.379 --> 19:57.950 Eric was fired up about uh , I was to 19:57.960 --> 20:00.127 have been gotten to know Mike in those 20:00.127 --> 20:02.349 sessions in the G eight conference room 20:02.349 --> 20:04.740 on came to value his position . Just 20:04.740 --> 20:06.980 what kind of a person is . I thought it 20:06.980 --> 20:09.400 was a good fit , given his experience 20:09.400 --> 20:13.100 in his background Given and also 20:13.110 --> 20:15.166 given my desire to have maintained a 20:15.166 --> 20:16.999 close relationship with the Army 20:16.999 --> 20:18.943 National Guard , and Mike has that 20:18.943 --> 20:21.054 connections that I thought would make 20:21.054 --> 20:24.220 us better inside a G A . So , after all , 20:24.220 --> 20:26.164 that years . He finally joined the 20:26.164 --> 20:28.331 regular Army after selling hot dogs so 20:28.331 --> 20:31.410 long ago , rejoined us back in June of 20:31.420 --> 20:35.260 20 36 after 36 or so years 20:35.260 --> 20:37.038 after that , making making that 20:37.038 --> 20:39.149 decision to become a civil servant in 20:39.149 --> 20:41.093 support of the nation . And we are 20:41.093 --> 20:43.093 certainly better for it here in the 20:43.093 --> 20:45.820 United States Army . Um , Mike jumped 20:45.820 --> 20:49.760 in . Do it right from day one . Uh , 20:50.440 --> 20:52.773 he made a difference from the beginning . 20:52.773 --> 20:54.884 And a couple of things I'll highlight 20:54.884 --> 20:56.773 from my personal experience , our 20:56.773 --> 20:58.996 interactions with him about what I like 20:58.996 --> 21:01.330 about my first . He is irrepressibly 21:01.340 --> 21:05.170 positive . Uh , when I was a 21:05.180 --> 21:07.850 kid , maybe Eric , you had one of these . 21:08.840 --> 21:11.500 They had these blow up punching bags . 21:11.500 --> 21:13.630 There's like a clown was about this 21:13.630 --> 21:15.852 tall . I had stand on the bottom and as 21:15.852 --> 21:17.686 a punching bag because I had two 21:17.686 --> 21:19.797 brothers and we always win fights . I 21:19.797 --> 21:21.797 think my parents got us to us so we 21:21.797 --> 21:21.700 could take it out on the punching clown 21:21.700 --> 21:24.290 instead of each other . But it was 21:24.290 --> 21:26.401 always popped back up . You could hit 21:26.401 --> 21:28.568 us hard . You want to come back with a 21:28.568 --> 21:28.520 smile , right at your younger it never 21:28.520 --> 21:30.687 changed his face . It always happy the 21:30.687 --> 21:32.853 punching clown . That is Mike Merman . 21:32.940 --> 21:34.996 You can give him all kind of stuff . 21:34.996 --> 21:37.051 You can punch him in the nose . He's 21:37.051 --> 21:38.996 gonna get back on his heels . He's 21:38.996 --> 21:40.940 gonna pop right back up . It'll be 21:40.940 --> 21:42.940 smiling right at you . Always has a 21:42.940 --> 21:45.107 again irrepressibly positive . That is 21:45.107 --> 21:47.440 a combat multiplier . Whether you're in 21:47.440 --> 21:49.718 combat , where in your in the Pentagon , 21:49.718 --> 21:51.884 Wherever you're at . I've always liked 21:51.884 --> 21:54.051 people that are positive . Hang around 21:54.051 --> 21:55.996 because there's not many things we 21:55.996 --> 21:58.162 tackle here that are easy and having a 21:58.162 --> 22:00.051 positive attitude just in life in 22:00.051 --> 22:02.107 general . But especially around here 22:02.107 --> 22:04.340 makes a difference . Mike's really deep 22:04.340 --> 22:06.990 into the data and how things work in 22:06.990 --> 22:08.970 that world . And again , something 22:08.970 --> 22:11.081 where we're going in the Army , we're 22:11.081 --> 22:13.359 gonna be leaning on him moving forward . 22:13.359 --> 22:15.581 So I think that was a big plus . Have a 22:15.581 --> 22:15.080 mic on the team . And I think maybe 22:15.080 --> 22:17.136 that's why part of why Eric selected 22:17.136 --> 22:19.540 him , he wants to make a difference . 22:19.670 --> 22:21.448 Mike , Somebody , somebody just 22:21.448 --> 22:23.670 standing around waiting for somebody to 22:23.670 --> 22:25.892 tell them what to do . He knows there's 22:25.892 --> 22:27.948 a lot to do . He's gonna go move out 22:27.948 --> 22:30.003 and finds , uh , make a difference . 22:30.003 --> 22:32.170 That's gonna change something positive 22:32.170 --> 22:34.226 before our soldiers out there in the 22:34.226 --> 22:36.337 field that has billions of dollars in 22:36.337 --> 22:38.640 decades in the future . Impact on it . 22:38.650 --> 22:42.260 So that's what Mike does for us . Also , 22:42.260 --> 22:45.310 Bike his self aware , he acknowledges 22:45.310 --> 22:48.500 the gaps he has in background and 22:48.500 --> 22:50.770 expertise . Sometimes we get a certain 22:50.770 --> 22:53.080 age in life , and we started shut that 22:53.080 --> 22:55.350 down . We don't talk . We don't worry 22:55.350 --> 22:58.150 about our gaps . Mike has acknowledged 22:58.150 --> 23:00.780 them , and more importantly , he works 23:00.780 --> 23:02.960 hard to build with that knowledge to 23:02.960 --> 23:05.182 make him ineffective . Senior executive 23:05.290 --> 23:07.512 around here , and I've seen that just a 23:07.512 --> 23:09.512 little bit of time . He's been here 23:09.512 --> 23:11.734 also . He's just a great teammate . You 23:11.734 --> 23:13.957 could just tell when you're with Mike a 23:13.957 --> 23:16.179 little bit . He'll drop what he's doing 23:16.179 --> 23:15.290 and pitch in and do something out of 23:15.290 --> 23:17.750 his job jar to help the team . I've 23:17.750 --> 23:19.750 leaned on that a little bit as I've 23:19.750 --> 23:22.028 been missing a deputy for a little bit . 23:22.028 --> 23:24.028 He's helped me with that . I'm sure 23:24.028 --> 23:26.028 Eric seeing it firsthand so again , 23:26.028 --> 23:28.194 that's something I always grade people 23:28.194 --> 23:30.361 on what kind of teammate they are when 23:30.361 --> 23:32.194 you're looking at intangibles of 23:32.194 --> 23:34.250 somebody who might checks that block 23:34.250 --> 23:36.306 and finally much just pleasant to be 23:36.306 --> 23:38.306 around . I've kind of danced around 23:38.306 --> 23:40.528 that in several ways of saying it . But 23:40.528 --> 23:42.583 when I was a battalion commander , I 23:42.583 --> 23:44.806 had my first brigade commander . I just 23:44.806 --> 23:47.028 didn't like I don't know what it waas . 23:47.028 --> 23:49.194 I'd be out in the field and here to be 23:49.194 --> 23:51.250 the Humvee . With all these antennas 23:51.250 --> 23:51.060 bounce around clacking together , it's 23:51.060 --> 23:53.060 like this just big Cloud would come 23:53.060 --> 23:55.171 over . Just I knew at the end of this 23:55.171 --> 23:57.393 discussion I was gonna have with him on 23:57.393 --> 23:59.320 something stupid . I would not be 23:59.320 --> 24:01.980 feeling as good as I was before . Mike 24:01.980 --> 24:03.980 is just the opposite . I don't know 24:03.980 --> 24:06.520 what I'm doing half the time in my 24:06.520 --> 24:08.687 office , but Michael come in with some 24:08.687 --> 24:10.798 kind of an issue . Want to talk to me 24:10.798 --> 24:12.853 about it At the end of it ? I always 24:12.853 --> 24:15.020 feel better after a little bit of time 24:15.020 --> 24:17.131 with Mike , just again , it goes back 24:17.131 --> 24:16.630 to the positive attitude being a good 24:16.630 --> 24:18.797 teammate , but it's just how he is his 24:18.797 --> 24:21.019 disposition in life . He makes you feel 24:21.019 --> 24:23.550 better with a little bit of time . You 24:23.550 --> 24:26.730 spend around so Mike . Thanks for 24:26.740 --> 24:28.962 making the decision to accept the offer 24:28.962 --> 24:31.780 to join FD working for Eric . He's 24:31.780 --> 24:33.724 someone who certainly needs a good 24:33.724 --> 24:36.580 deputy . Okay , Eric needs a little bit 24:36.580 --> 24:38.747 of training wheels on there . I'm just 24:38.747 --> 24:40.969 kidding . Everybody out there . I am so 24:40.969 --> 24:43.136 blessed having Eric Peterson being the 24:43.136 --> 24:45.247 f D . He is incredible talent . And I 24:45.247 --> 24:47.358 hope you enjoy working with HMAS much 24:47.358 --> 24:49.880 as I do . And Tony , thanks for being a 24:49.880 --> 24:52.350 great partner with your husband 24:52.840 --> 24:55.290 throughout these 20 plus years , 24:55.840 --> 24:58.170 raising your son that may or may not be 24:58.170 --> 25:01.420 out there . Dylan , uh , he could not 25:01.430 --> 25:03.560 be here today without your love and 25:03.560 --> 25:07.260 support . So there you have 36 years of 25:07.260 --> 25:09.260 service to the nation's culminating 25:09.260 --> 25:10.982 here today , where we're gonna 25:10.982 --> 25:13.204 officially recognized him as a tier two 25:13.204 --> 25:15.300 s s . That's a great way to wind up 25:15.310 --> 25:17.960 short week . Here is we take a well 25:17.960 --> 25:20.260 deserved break with family within all 25:20.260 --> 25:24.250 the rules out there . Okay . Before way . 25:24.250 --> 25:26.960 Head off . Thanks . Giving weekend so 25:26.960 --> 25:29.182 again to everybody out there not in the 25:29.182 --> 25:32.110 room . I wish you a pleasant , happy , 25:32.120 --> 25:34.560 safe holidays . And with that , why 25:34.560 --> 25:36.393 don't we move on to the official 25:36.640 --> 25:38.980 recognition here for Mike ? So , George , 25:38.980 --> 25:40.924 I'm taking your lead . You kind of 25:40.924 --> 25:43.036 guidance of what you want us to dio . 25:43.036 --> 25:46.860 Okay . Thank you , general . 25:46.860 --> 25:50.170 Fast . Correct . Yeah . Good . Mrs . 25:50.170 --> 25:52.610 Merman , will you now please join 25:52.620 --> 25:54.720 Lieutenant General Pastor Rat at the 25:54.720 --> 25:55.887 front of the stage ? 25:59.340 --> 26:01.396 Okay , we're gonna do the oath right 26:01.396 --> 26:03.340 now . Let me just get this ready , 26:03.340 --> 26:05.562 because I know it . But sometimes , you 26:05.562 --> 26:07.729 know it's always good to have a back . 26:07.729 --> 26:10.760 Sure speech . Okay , 26:15.040 --> 26:17.780 ladies and gentlemen , please remain 26:17.780 --> 26:20.360 seated throughout the presentation . 26:21.340 --> 26:23.507 Lieutenant General Pass correct . Will 26:23.507 --> 26:25.673 now administer the oath of office with 26:25.673 --> 26:27.840 the assistance of Mrs Merman . Hi . 26:27.850 --> 26:30.580 State your name , Michael . Do solemnly 26:30.580 --> 26:32.691 swear . Do solemnly swear that I will 26:32.691 --> 26:34.858 support and defend that I will support 26:34.858 --> 26:36.802 and defend the Constitution of the 26:36.802 --> 26:39.024 United States . The Constitution of the 26:39.024 --> 26:41.024 United States against all enemies , 26:41.024 --> 26:42.969 foreign and domestic , against all 26:42.969 --> 26:45.191 enemies , foreign and domestic . That I 26:45.191 --> 26:47.358 will bear true faith and allegiance to 26:47.358 --> 26:49.469 the same . And I will bear true faith 26:49.469 --> 26:51.469 and allegiance to the same . I take 26:51.469 --> 26:53.524 this obligation freely . I take this 26:53.524 --> 26:55.580 obligation freely without any mental 26:55.580 --> 26:57.302 reservation without any mental 26:57.302 --> 26:59.358 reservation or purpose of evasion or 26:59.358 --> 27:01.469 purpose of evasion that will well and 27:01.469 --> 27:01.230 faithfully and that I will well and 27:01.240 --> 27:03.129 faithfully discharge the duties , 27:03.129 --> 27:05.510 discharge the duties of the office upon 27:05.520 --> 27:08.560 of the office . Upon about I'm about . 27:08.560 --> 27:09.850 So help me God . Hm . 27:16.440 --> 27:18.607 Lieutenant General Pass Keret will now 27:18.607 --> 27:20.700 present Mr Merman with the Senior 27:20.700 --> 27:22.990 Executive Service Pen with the 27:22.990 --> 27:26.680 assistance of Mrs Merman . Okay . 27:29.240 --> 27:31.270 Right . Let's put the Bible . 27:33.140 --> 27:34.140 No , it's 28:00.340 --> 28:02.680 thank you , Mrs Merman . Lieutenant 28:02.680 --> 28:04.930 Colonel Pass Keret will now present Mr 28:04.930 --> 28:07.550 Merman with the Army Senior Executive 28:07.550 --> 28:10.880 Service Flag . The symbol on the senior 28:10.890 --> 28:13.450 Executive service pen and flag 28:13.460 --> 28:16.010 represents a keystone , the center 28:16.010 --> 28:18.300 stone that holds all of the stones of 28:18.300 --> 28:21.200 an art and place . This represents the 28:21.200 --> 28:23.256 Senior Executive Service is critical 28:23.256 --> 28:26.160 role as a central coordinating point 28:26.170 --> 28:28.080 between governments . Political 28:28.080 --> 28:30.430 leadership , which sets our political 28:30.430 --> 28:32.710 agenda , and the senior service 28:32.720 --> 28:35.410 employees who implemented Senior 28:35.410 --> 28:37.243 Executive Service translates the 28:37.243 --> 28:40.050 political agenda and to reality , the 28:40.060 --> 28:42.004 upright lines in the center of the 28:42.004 --> 28:44.570 keystone represent a column in which 28:44.940 --> 28:47.270 individual senior service executive 28:47.280 --> 28:50.280 members are united and a single 28:50.290 --> 28:51.570 leadership core . 29:04.540 --> 29:06.762 Thank you , Lieutenant . General Pass , 29:06.762 --> 29:08.730 Correct . Yes , sir . 29:10.440 --> 29:13.350 Ladies and gentlemen , I now present to 29:13.350 --> 29:16.120 you the director of Resource is Mr 29:16.130 --> 29:17.370 Michael Merman . 29:25.640 --> 29:26.550 You too . But 29:32.640 --> 29:33.807 you want What's up ? 29:36.640 --> 29:37.640 Thank you . 29:42.540 --> 29:45.690 First I want to say thank you to that 29:45.700 --> 29:47.922 inspirational rendition of the national 29:47.922 --> 29:51.510 anthem by Anger . A little known 29:51.510 --> 29:54.400 fact . Edgar has done that at FedEx 29:54.400 --> 29:57.210 Field for a bunch of crazy football 29:57.220 --> 30:01.140 fans for a home game of the Washington 30:01.140 --> 30:04.380 football team . Also a big thanks to 30:04.380 --> 30:07.140 Chaplin Brandt for the prayer and honor 30:07.140 --> 30:09.580 me with the attendance . Um , it's 30:09.580 --> 30:11.636 great to have a friend who is also a 30:11.636 --> 30:14.670 chaplain who has an in with Lord 30:15.440 --> 30:17.840 on . Thanks for providing me support 30:17.850 --> 30:21.470 during the tough days . Mhm , um , 30:22.040 --> 30:24.310 by reminding me we are all God's 30:24.310 --> 30:27.130 Children and that the sun will rise . 30:28.440 --> 30:30.551 I'm truly blessed to call him and his 30:30.551 --> 30:32.510 lovely wife , Jane friends , and I 30:32.510 --> 30:35.540 appreciate your attendance . Next , I 30:35.540 --> 30:37.707 just want to take a few minutes to say 30:37.707 --> 30:39.540 thank you to a few people , have 30:39.540 --> 30:41.707 touched my life and mentored me in the 30:41.707 --> 30:43.818 past . It all started with Lieutenant 30:43.818 --> 30:45.873 Colonel John Buxton . He didn't know 30:45.873 --> 30:47.707 what to do with the GS three ops 30:47.707 --> 30:50.370 research analyst or a Z 100 computer . 30:50.740 --> 30:54.560 The rest is history . A quick shout out 30:54.570 --> 30:56.792 Miss Carol Dearie taught me how to be a 30:56.792 --> 31:00.090 good analyst . Next is Mizzi , 31:00.100 --> 31:03.400 or also known as Patsy Rod quits who 31:03.400 --> 31:05.890 shepherd me along for many , many years . 31:05.910 --> 31:08.090 And every once in a while I did wear 31:08.090 --> 31:11.760 out her patients . Um , Major Jim 31:11.760 --> 31:14.590 Martin , who took me aside for a reboot 31:14.600 --> 31:16.544 on how to act as a senior leader . 31:16.544 --> 31:19.210 Thank you , sir . A shout out to the 31:19.210 --> 31:22.230 Colonel Lisa Courtney , who taught me 31:22.240 --> 31:24.450 all about the Army and the Army 31:24.450 --> 31:26.600 National Guard and got the first ever 31:26.610 --> 31:28.970 as he has chief financial officer up 31:28.980 --> 31:32.200 and running . Next is a crusty old 31:32.200 --> 31:34.450 command sergeant Major Taito , who 31:34.450 --> 31:36.450 taught me everything I need to know 31:36.450 --> 31:39.780 about enlisted soldiers . Major General 31:39.780 --> 31:42.440 retired . Whittington who ? Beating to 31:42.440 --> 31:44.496 me . The three reasons for holding a 31:44.496 --> 31:46.718 meeting and which I'm trying to pass on 31:46.718 --> 31:49.430 to my folks today . I want to also 31:49.430 --> 31:52.250 thank Rich Johnson for getting me to 31:52.250 --> 31:54.420 think strategically and keep me 31:54.430 --> 31:57.220 grounded . But especially , I want to 31:57.220 --> 31:59.276 thank Lieutenant Colonel Academy for 31:59.276 --> 32:01.670 taking a chance on an Air Force guy to 32:01.680 --> 32:04.550 be his chief financial officer . I want 32:04.550 --> 32:06.383 to thank all of my fellow senior 32:06.383 --> 32:08.430 executives in the army who have 32:08.430 --> 32:11.000 embraced this Air Force dude and made 32:11.000 --> 32:13.222 me feel the member of the team from day 32:13.222 --> 32:15.840 one . Finally , I want to Thank 32:15.850 --> 32:17.961 Lieutenant General past Keret . Thank 32:17.961 --> 32:20.072 you , sir , for hosting and insisting 32:20.072 --> 32:23.120 that we do this ceremony . Um , this is 32:23.120 --> 32:25.480 an unusual ceremony due to the plague 32:25.480 --> 32:27.480 in this long , strange trip that we 32:27.480 --> 32:30.140 call 2020 . And I want to throw a quick 32:30.140 --> 32:32.690 shout out to my mom March Career E and 32:32.690 --> 32:35.570 my dad Step mom Dick and Maureen Merman . 32:36.440 --> 32:40.080 Hi . I'm glad you could tune in on and 32:40.080 --> 32:42.640 thank you to Mr Aronsohn . Pentagon 32:42.640 --> 32:44.973 television for broadcasting . Thank you . 32:45.540 --> 32:47.596 I want to say hi to my sister Sharon 32:47.596 --> 32:49.651 and my brother Mike . Yes , I have a 32:49.651 --> 32:52.390 brother , Mike . Hopefully anti Ellen , 32:52.400 --> 32:54.530 Uncle Paul and Elizabeth and Uncle 32:54.530 --> 32:56.900 Larry , an officer . Mackey were 32:56.910 --> 33:00.730 managed to tune in also finally , a 33:00.740 --> 33:03.330 quick hello to my son who may or may 33:03.330 --> 33:06.640 not be online . He spent last night in 33:06.640 --> 33:09.460 a hotel on his way home from college 33:09.840 --> 33:12.390 who thought that I'd be saying on his 33:12.390 --> 33:16.220 way home from college , I and the 33:16.220 --> 33:18.553 rest of the army leadership . Thank you , 33:18.553 --> 33:20.664 Dylan , for self quarantining . So we 33:20.664 --> 33:22.609 could make this ceremony risk free 33:22.609 --> 33:24.980 event . I'm proud of you for turning 33:24.980 --> 33:27.470 out to be such a fine young man . And 33:27.470 --> 33:29.990 to all my family who are not here . I'm 33:29.990 --> 33:32.101 not sure if you recognize it , but it 33:32.101 --> 33:34.630 was just four years ago today or this 33:34.630 --> 33:36.797 year that we were in this room for the 33:36.797 --> 33:38.741 Holy Heroes . And we celebrated my 33:38.741 --> 33:41.960 promotion . That tear want to Mrs Merk ? 33:44.240 --> 33:46.930 It's amazing to think about 30 years 33:46.930 --> 33:49.890 ago were working the A V r source 33:49.890 --> 33:52.420 selection enhancing Air Force base . 33:52.430 --> 33:55.600 And this Karen Monroe steered me in 33:55.600 --> 33:58.400 your direction . We've had quite an 33:58.400 --> 34:00.450 adventure from waterfalls in Nova 34:00.450 --> 34:03.380 Scotia in Prattville , Alabama , to sin 34:03.380 --> 34:06.810 Appy in Florence , Italy , to the 34:06.820 --> 34:09.210 dens arrow of light crossing over 34:09.210 --> 34:11.830 ceremony through all that , you've been 34:11.830 --> 34:12.886 right by my side . 34:15.340 --> 34:17.562 Thanks . And I'm looking forward to the 34:17.562 --> 34:20.970 next 30 years . Yeah , 34:23.240 --> 34:25.018 we're gonna break a little Kobe 34:25.018 --> 34:27.470 protocol here . 34:33.770 --> 34:37.530 Thank you . Um , I'm truly breast and 34:37.530 --> 34:40.020 thank I'm truly blessed and thankful to 34:40.020 --> 34:41.853 so many folks that made this day 34:41.853 --> 34:44.330 possible . Just 10 months ago , our 34:44.330 --> 34:46.850 world was turned upside down . And just 34:46.850 --> 34:48.683 days , I experience working in a 34:48.683 --> 34:50.517 building with 3200 employees and 34:50.517 --> 34:53.550 soldiers to being one of 50 here in the 34:53.550 --> 34:56.030 Pentagon . Even though the parking lot 34:56.030 --> 34:58.560 is full of the halls are eerily quiet . 34:59.640 --> 35:01.720 For example , this summer between 35:01.730 --> 35:03.760 normal overseas deployments , the 35:03.760 --> 35:06.510 Southwest Border Mission Mobilization 35:06.510 --> 35:08.910 to support Co vid 19 operations in 35:08.910 --> 35:10.560 addition to support of civil 35:10.560 --> 35:13.520 disturbances , our nation had almost as 35:13.530 --> 35:15.940 many National Guard men and women 35:15.940 --> 35:19.010 mobilized since World War two . That is 35:19.010 --> 35:22.890 just amazing , truly historic 35:22.890 --> 35:25.190 times , but I would not treated it for 35:25.200 --> 35:29.140 anything . Now , thanks to the task at 35:29.140 --> 35:31.307 hand , I'm trying to learn about being 35:31.307 --> 35:33.529 G eight , and I appreciate the patients 35:33.529 --> 35:36.180 with the staff on my endless questions 35:36.180 --> 35:38.460 and trying to understand things . I 35:38.460 --> 35:40.516 thank Major General Peterson and the 35:40.516 --> 35:42.571 Army senior leadership for giving me 35:42.571 --> 35:44.682 this great opportunity is director of 35:44.682 --> 35:46.793 Resource is I'm humbled to be part of 35:46.793 --> 35:48.793 an incredible organization is doing 35:48.793 --> 35:51.016 their best modernizing equipped today's 35:51.016 --> 35:53.820 army . On a serious note , I ask 35:53.820 --> 35:56.650 everyone not to get co vid fatigue . We 35:56.650 --> 35:58.761 have to keep up the mask discipline . 35:58.761 --> 36:01.080 As of a says , the teleworking and the 36:01.080 --> 36:03.750 social distancing . We're literally 36:03.760 --> 36:06.160 months away from the vaccine , as 36:06.160 --> 36:08.104 Chapel Brandt reminds me , and cut 36:08.104 --> 36:10.104 along your comments , sir , the sun 36:10.104 --> 36:13.640 will rise tomorrow . Want to get once 36:13.640 --> 36:15.862 again thanks The Department of the Army 36:15.862 --> 36:17.862 General past grab for providing the 36:17.862 --> 36:20.084 resource is and the opportunity to make 36:20.084 --> 36:22.029 this ceremony even possible during 36:22.029 --> 36:24.084 predicament . Pandemic . Thank you , 36:24.084 --> 36:26.251 George , for doing the emcee . You did 36:26.251 --> 36:29.040 a great job , John . Suzanne , Thank 36:29.040 --> 36:31.151 you very much . Even I see you out in 36:31.151 --> 36:33.429 the hallway . Thank you very much . Uh , 36:33.429 --> 36:35.680 Jasmine , who's on board ? And of 36:35.690 --> 36:37.912 course , Major Walenta , who's probably 36:37.912 --> 36:40.023 running around crazy right now in the 36:40.023 --> 36:42.134 hallways . Thank you all for the hard 36:42.134 --> 36:44.246 work . Organizing . Helping with this 36:44.246 --> 36:46.357 ceremony in closing I wish everyone a 36:46.357 --> 36:49.250 healthy and blessed Thanksgiving . God 36:49.250 --> 36:50.340 bless Smoke 36:54.070 --> 36:54.950 E . 36:58.930 --> 37:00.819 Mr . Berman , Thank you for those 37:00.819 --> 37:02.708 comments . Ladies and gentlemen , 37:02.708 --> 37:05.300 please stand and join and singing the 37:05.300 --> 37:08.660 Army song led by major acre Egger 37:08.670 --> 37:11.110 Kenyans . The words could be found on 37:11.110 --> 37:12.610 the back of your program . 37:16.330 --> 37:19.840 Uh huh . March 37:19.840 --> 37:23.710 along along 37:23.720 --> 37:26.420 with me with 37:26.430 --> 37:27.730 free 37:28.060 --> 37:30.700 with 37:30.710 --> 37:32.280 true 37:32.290 --> 37:36.250 booth 37:36.330 --> 37:39.090 Where a 37:39.100 --> 37:42.940 day were the Army Brownie 37:42.950 --> 37:46.900 Brooklyn First to fight for the right 37:46.910 --> 37:50.270 into with divisions might and the army 37:50.280 --> 37:54.170 rolling along . Proud of all we 37:54.180 --> 37:56.520 have gone fighting till the battle's 37:56.530 --> 37:59.400 won And the army was rolling 37:59.410 --> 38:01.460 along . Then 38:01.470 --> 38:17.350 way . 38:17.830 --> 38:19.386 What ? All right , thinking 38:20.130 --> 38:23.910 just ladies and gentlemen , this 38:23.910 --> 38:26.170 concludes today's ceremony Thank you 38:26.170 --> 38:28.720 for joining us and this joyous occasion 38:28.730 --> 38:31.250 and celebrating with the Merman's On 38:31.250 --> 38:33.720 behalf of Mr Merman , you're invited to 38:33.720 --> 38:35.720 the reception immediately following 38:35.720 --> 38:38.510 today's ceremony located in the G eight 38:38.510 --> 38:42.500 Conference room three . Echo 387 Again , 38:42.510 --> 38:44.840 Thank you and Happy Holidays .