Floor SpeechUrgent2026-05-26

TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE

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Context

On 2026-05-26, Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-2) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE" in the House.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 89 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E487-E488] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE ______ HON. DON BACON of nebraska in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bruce Van Zuiden, who is retiring after 39 years of dedicated service to this great Nation both in our military and civilian service. Bruce Van Zuiden was born in Fulton, Illinois, the youngest boy of the family's six children. From his early days, he was an intrepid explorer who had a heart for service. One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming an Eagle Scout. In February 1976, five months before graduating from Fulton High School, soon-to-be Airman Basic Van Zuiden signed up for delayed enlistment in the Air Force. He entered basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in August 1976 and left as an Honor Graduate enroute to technical training at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Upon graduation from Aircraft Maintenance school, Airman Van Zuiden was assigned to 376th Strategic Wing, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. At Kadena, Airman Van Zuiden was assigned to KC-135Q Strategic Tankers whose primary mission was aerial refueling SR-71 Reconnaissance aircraft. On August 4, 1977, he was promoted to Airman First Class. In September 1978, Airman First Class Van Zuiden was assigned to 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he was a crew chief on the venerable C-141 aircraft. During that time, he was promoted to Senior Airman and then to Staff Sergeant, continuing to excel in every mission assigned. He also continued to challenge himself during off-duty time, taking and excelling in college courses at Trident Technical College and The Citadel. Because of his demonstrated leadership and exceptional performance, Staff Sergeant Van Zuiden was selected for the Airman Education and Commissioning Program in June 1982 and headed off to be a full-time student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. In May 1985 he earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and reported to Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in September 1985. Second Lieutenant Van Zudien's first assignment was as a Tactical Communications Engineer with the 3rd Combat Communications Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where he deployed to support several real-world operations including Honduras during the Contra Affair, Jordan during United States escort duties of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, and several Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises. In September 1987, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. Again, because of his proven leadership, strong academic acumen, and performance, First Lieutenant Van Zuiden was selected to attend an Air Force Institute of Technology program at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, graduating in 1991 as an Air Force Captain with a Master of Science in Systems Technology. In July 1995, Captain Van Zuiden was assigned to NATO E-3A Airborne Warning and Control Systems at Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, one of only two operational Airborne Early Warning and Control wings in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In July 1997, he was promoted to Major and assigned as Chief Systems Engineer at the United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, overseeing numerous major systems integration programs until his retirement in May 2000. In February 2011, Bruce Van Zuiden returned to public service and began his civilian career with the Air Force as the lead engineer of Global Strike systems for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. In 2015, he was promoted to the Branch Chief of the Integration Management Branch where he was responsible for the mid-tier technical environment hosting all nuclear planning applications. In 2018, he led migrating Integrated Strategic Planning and Analysis Network systems to the new United States Strategic Command headquarters building. In 2019, after the new Command and Control Facility was operational, he focused on transitioning all Air Force Life Cycle Management Center offices, networks, and staff to another location. In 2020, Bruce Van Zuiden was selected for assignment to Headquarters European Command as the Chief Architect of the European Theater where he was responsible for information technology support for allied nations supporting United States operations in the Ukraine conflict. Because of his expertise and proven success, he was tasked to support information operations for activities related to the Gaza crisis. In April 2024, Bruce Van Zuiden returned to Offutt Air Force Base as Branch Chief Rogue Blue Software, skillfully leading a team of over 30 professionals who provided invaluable support to the Nuclear Weapons Center, resulting in his team receiving multiple quarterly awards and recognition for going above and beyond. In March 2025, he was selected as lead engineer of the Mission Planning and Analysis System and collaborated with the Chief Engineer and Chief Architect on future Strategic Mission Planning and Execution System efforts. His efforts resulted in a technology road map for the Strategic Mission Planning and Execution System for the next five years. I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing Bruce Van Zuiden for his 39 years of selfless service to this Nation. Despite receiving numerous achievements, medals, and awards, Major Van Zuiden remains focused on his faith, his family, his community, and his Nation. We thank him, his wife Sarah, their five children--Stacey, Heather, Holly, Tyler, and Cody--for their sacrifice and service, and wish them well in the years to come. [[Page E488]] ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 89 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E487-E488] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MAJOR (RET.) BRUCE VAN ZUIDEN, UNITED STATED AIR FORCE ______ HON. DON BACON of nebraska in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bruce Van Zuiden, who is retiring after 39 years of dedicated service to this great Nation both in our military and civilian service. Bruce Van Zuiden was born in Fulton, Illinois, the youngest boy of the family's six children. From his early days, he was an intrepid explorer who had a heart for service. One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming an Eagle Scout. In February 1976, five months before graduating from Fulton High School, soon-to-be Airman Basic Van Zuiden signed up for delayed enlistment in the Air Force. He entered basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in August 1976 and left as an Honor Graduate enroute to technical training at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Upon graduation from Aircraft Maintenance school, Airman Van Zuiden was assigned to 376th Strategic Wing, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. At Kadena, Airman Van Zuiden was assigned to KC-135Q Strategic Tankers whose primary mission was aerial refueling SR-71 Reconnaissance aircraft. On August 4, 1977, he was promoted to Airman First Class. In September 1978, Airman First Class Van Zuiden was assigned to 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he was a crew chief on the venerable C-141 aircraft. During that time, he was promoted to Senior Airman and then to Staff Sergeant, continuing to excel in every mission assigned. He also continued to challenge himself during off-duty time, taking and excelling in college courses at Trident Technical College and The Citadel. Because of his demonstrated leadership and exceptional performance, Staff Sergeant Van Zuiden was selected for the Airman Education and Commissioning Program in June 1982 and headed off to be a full-time student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. In May 1985 he earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and reported to Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in September 1985. Second Lieutenant Van Zudien's first assignment was as a Tactical Communications Engineer with the 3rd Combat Communications Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where he deployed to support several real-world operations including Honduras during the Contra Affair, Jordan during United States escort duties of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, and several Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises. In September 1987, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. Again, because of his proven leadership, strong academic acumen, and performance, First Lieutenant Van Zuiden was selected to attend an Air Force Institute of Technology program at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, graduating in 1991 as an Air Force Captain with a Master of Science in Systems Technology. In July 1995, Captain Van Zuiden was assigned to NATO E-3A Airborne Warning and Control Systems at Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, one of only two operational Airborne Early Warning and Control wings in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In July 1997, he was promoted to Major and assigned as Chief Systems Engineer at the United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, overseeing numerous major systems integration programs until his retirement in May 2000. In February 2011, Bruce Van Zuiden returned to public service and began his civilian career with the Air Force as the lead engineer of Global Strike systems for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. In 2015, he was promoted to the Branch Chief of the Integration Management Branch where he was responsible for the mid-tier technical environment hosting all nuclear planning applications. In 2018, he led migrating Integrated Strategic Planning and Analysis Network systems to the new United States Strategic Command headquarters building. In 2019, after the new Command and Control Facility was operational, he focused on transitioning all Air Force Life Cycle Management Center offices, networks, and staff to another location. In 2020, Bruce Van Zuiden was selected for assignment to Headquarters European Command as the Chief Architect of the European Theater where he was responsible for information technology support for allied nations supporting United States operations in the Ukraine conflict. Because of his expertise and proven success, he was tasked to support information operations for activities related to the Gaza crisis. In April 2024, Bruce Van Zuiden returned to Offutt Air Force Base as Branch Chief Rogue Blue Software, skillfully leading a team of over 30 professionals who provided invaluable support to the Nuclear Weapons Center, resulting in his team receiving multiple quarterly awards and recognition for going above and beyond. In March 2025, he was selected as lead engineer of the Mission Planning and Analysis System and collaborated with the Chief Engineer and Chief Architect on future Strategic Mission Planning and Execution System efforts. His efforts resulted in a technology road map for the Strategic Mission Planning and Execution System for the next five years. I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing Bruce Van Zuiden for his 39 years of selfless service to this Nation. Despite receiving numerous achievements, medals, and awards, Major Van Zuiden remains focused on his faith, his family, his community, and his Nation. We thank him, his wife Sarah, their five children--Stacey, Heather, Holly, Tyler, and Cody--for their sacrifice and service, and wish them well in the years to come. [[Page E488]] ____________________