2004 Speeches
Col. Tietjen's Retirement
Remarks by Ambassador Frank Lavin
June 1, 2004
General Khoo, General Tan, General Tan, and General Lim, men and women of the Singapore and American Armed Forces, members of the military attaché community in Singapore, colleagues, and friends, thank you for joining us today to commemorate the retirement of Col Jim Tietjen.
Col. Tietjen has served this embassy and his country with superb dedication and skills over the past four years. The United States has fought two wars during this tour and air power was the decisive element during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I suggest we leave the debate to later as to whether it was the U.S. Air Force or Naval aviation that made the greater contribution. For this event, we can all agree that Col. Tietjen was responsible for about 3,400 flight operations annually during this vital 18-month period. To those of you who wonder who he really works for - me, the Air Force, DIA - I can share with you this secret: He really works for TRANSCOM, our Transportation Command.
Beyond support for combat operations, Col. Tietjen had a number of other critical roles to play. Improving intelligence sharing and exercises with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Coordinating the visits of dozens of flag officers and VIPs. Working on two Asian Aerospaces.
And if I may add a personal note, Col. Tietjen has provided enormous assistance to me in my duties and beyond, from escorting my family through the RSAF’s 35th anniversary display to giving me the pleasure of meeting his aunt, an artist of some renown. I have valued his support, his advice, and his friendship over these past few years.
Col. Tietjen, if I may say so, you are a lucky man. And I cite three reasons for such a statement.
You are lucky because you have been able to follow your passion. And I am not, for the moment, talking about your bride. But I am talking about flying and air power. Those of us who are not in this profession have only a vague recognition of the captivating nature of aviation, as a central design of commercial aviation is to drain the process of any feel or special qualities. But sometimes, through a glass darkly, we catch a glimpse of the calling that draws people to the skies. You are in that fortunate few who have found a passion and have been able to pursue it.
Second, you are lucky because you have been able to broaden yourself. You organized your career and your life to allow you to see the world, to develop an understanding of how it works, to get to know Asia in particular, to serve at that critical juncture of operations and policy. You chose an intellectually challenging career and it served you well.
Third, and finally, you are lucky because you found Valerie. We all know that whatever worth our lives have by themselves, they are endowed with that much of a greater worth when we share them with others.
So we have emotional stimulation….intellectual stimulation….and just stimulation.
You are a lucky man, Col, and we are lucky as well for having had the opportunity to know you and get to work with you.
We say not farewell, but until we meet again, because we know that you will remain a part of Singapore American relations, and there are chapters in your book yet to be written.
If I may borrow an Air Force expression, keep your wings level and true. Godspeed.