Senate Concurrent Resolution 501

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL W. PETERSON FOR HIS DEDICATED AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON HIS ASSIGNMENT AS COMMANDER, 81ST TRAINING WING, AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND, KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Brigadier General Michael W. Peterson has been assigned as Commander, 81st Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Brigadier General Peterson entered the Air Force in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi ROTC Program; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson is a 1970 graduate of Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson continued his education in Mississippi, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1974, and a Master's Degree in Telecommunications Management from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1983; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson graduated from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1992; and

WHEREAS, prior to his assignment to Keesler Air Force Base, General Peterson was Director, Communications and Information Systems, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in this capacity, General Peterson was the functional leader for 15,000 communications and information professionals, providing services to over 100,000 active-duty military and civilian members at 30 major installations in the United States, Iceland and Portugal; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson also developed policy, oversaw programs and managed resources in support of the command's mission to provide nuclear forces for the U.S. Strategic Command, theater air forces for U.S. Joint Forces Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command, as well as defense forces for the North American Aerospace Defense Command; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson directed Air Force communications supporting the air war over Serbia and no-fly zone operations over southern Iraq; and

WHEREAS, General Peterson also commanded a space operations group and served on the Joint Staff with responsibility for advising the Chairman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on issues relating to military satellite communications; and

WHEREAS, throughout his exemplary career, General Peterson has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his ability and accomplishments, General Peterson was rewarded with promotions throughout his military career, beginning with his promotion to Second Lieutenant on May 22, 1974; First Lieutenant on June 7, 1976; Captain on June 7, 1978; Major on November 1, 1985; Lieutenant Colonel on June 1, 1989; Colonel on February 1, 1994 and Brigadier General on October 1, 2000; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Mississippi Senate to recognize and commend the exemplary military service and contributions of citizens like Brigadier General Michael W. Peterson who has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the citizens of the United States of America:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Brigadier General Michael W. Peterson for his dedicated and exemplary service to the citizens of the United States of America and congratulate him upon his assignment as Commander 81st Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, and extend our warmest welcome to the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Brigadier General Michael W. Peterson.