The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL W. MacKAY
______
HON. KEN CALVERT
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Master Sergeant Michael W. MacKay who will be retiring today from the United States Marine Corps after 20 years of distinguished service. Mike was raised in New York City and following the September 11th attacks he, like so many patriots, enlisted in the Marine Corps in November of 2001.
Mike's operational assignments include Operations Chief and Senior Enlisted Leader for the Commander of the Special Operations Command and Control Element in Africa. He also deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan on numerous occasions between 2003 and 2017 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve. As a Critical Skills Operator, or Marine Raider, Mike has been stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC; Camp Pendleton, CA; and Washington, D.C. and has traveled to over 30 countries. He served as the Chief instructor of an advanced technical operations course at the Marine Raider Training Center and is a graduate of the USMC Congressional Fellowship program; USMC Combatant Diver Course; USMC Amphibious Reconnaissance Course; USMC Scout Sniper Course; U.S. Army Airborne Course; U.S. Army Special Forces Military Freefall; and the U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.
Mike graduated Suma Cum Laude from Norwich University's Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis program. He earned a master's degree in Public Administration and Policy from American University and a graduate certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University's Government Affairs Institute in Washington, D.C. He also completed the Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II and earned the Michael A. Monsoor Leadership Award from the Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Advisors Course. Mike's brave actions on the battlefield earned him a number of awards, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal (Combat), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, 3 Combat Action Ribbons, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 7 Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and 6 Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.
With his robust, boots-on-the-ground experience serving our nation around the globe, I am honored now to have Mike as a member of my staff. Prior to serving as my national security advisor, Mike was the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism and the Appropriations Liaison to the Assistant Secretary of Defense from Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict in the Department of Defense, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I thank Mike for his exemplary service in the United States Marine Corps.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 201(1), Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 201(2)
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