PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN R. FORBES

PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN R. FORBES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E266-E267] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN R. FORBES ______ HON. KEN CALVERT of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. John Forbes as he departs service to this body to assume the role of Clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Over the course of his distinguished career spanning more than two decades, John has honorably served in the United States Air Force, the executive branch, and the legislative branch. As we mark the close of this chapter of John's service, I am pleased to honor his dedicated contributions as a professional staff member for the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense. John began his career as an enlisted airman in the Air Force in August 2000, a formative experience that grounded him in the practical realities of the men and women our defense budgets are meant to serve. Over the following decade, John rose through the ranks and earned his commission as an officer, accumulating experience across multiple Air Force installations. He completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Troy University, and later earned a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University. As his career progressed, John was selected as a Strategic Policy Fellow, serving at the Office of Management and Budget's National Security Division and the Defense Innovation Board in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He commanded the 27th Special Operations Comptroller Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, during which time he established the first-ever Air Force Special Operations Command wing innovation cell, garnering Small Business Innovation Research contracts to accelerate the application of emerging technology to the wing's mission. For this and his broader service, he was recognized as both the United States Air Force Comptroller of the Year and the United States Special Operations Command Comptroller of the Year. John also served as a Politico-Military Planner for the Joint Staff's J-5 Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate, where he was the principal strategist and advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for twelve European allies and partners. Among many consequential assignments, he developed and coordinated the Chairman's foreign engagement plan in response to the threat of Russian incursion into Ukraine and Chinese influence in the region. In March 2022, John transitioned to Capitol Hill, where he served as a professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, where he oversaw Research, Development, Test and Evaluation for the Army; Shipbuilding and Conversion for the Navy; and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. John joined the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense in January 2023, where [[Page E267]] he had oversight responsibility of critical defense and intelligence community accounts, including Operation and Maintenance, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the United States Special Operations Command. John was essential in developing the first full-year continuing resolution for Defense in fiscal year 2025, as well as bringing the Subcommittee back to a resemblance of regular order in fiscal year 2026--both among the most challenging appropriations cycles in recent memory. As John begins a new chapter in the Senate, I would be remiss if I did not reflect on the tremendous contribution he has made to the House Appropriations Committee and to our national security. John brings to every task an exceptional breadth of experience--the perspective of an enlisted airman, a commander, a strategist, a budget officer, and a legislative professional. His depth of knowledge, his professionalism, and his abiding commitment to the men and women of our armed forces have made him an invaluable member of the defense appropriations staff. I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending John Forbes for his extraordinary service to our country, and I wish him every success in his important new role. ____________________