Floor SpeechNeutral2026-08-07

TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND

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Context

On 2026-08-07, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND" in the Senate.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4559-S4560] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an exemplary Virginian and outstanding citizen, LTC Mark L. Haaland, U.S. Army, Retired. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland is retiring from his position as director of government affairs for the Association of the United States Army, AUSA, where he has been a leading advocate and voice for the total Army--Regular Army, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, Army civilians, Army families, and veterans--for nearly 8 years. He exemplifies a lifetime of commitment and service to our Nation, his community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and his family. As the son of an Army officer and Vietnam war veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland knew from a young age that his life's path would be one of service. After his family moved to Hampton, VA, in 1972, when his father was assigned to the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Mark attended Kecoughtan High School, where he met his future wife Toni Minetti. Following his graduation in 1975, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the Class of 1979 before beginning a 20-year Army career as an armor officer serving in operational units and on the Army staff at the Pentagon. Virginia has remained central to Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's life and service. He and Toni, a Hampton native whose father Pat Minetti devoted his own career to public service as a Hampton police officer before retiring as the city's chief of police, were married at Fort Monroe in 1979. During Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's Army service, the family returned to Hampton, while he served at the Army Training and Doctrine Command. Since his assignment to Headquarters, Department of the Army in 1993, Mark and Toni have made Fairfax County their home for more than three decades. Both of their children were born in Virginia, attended Virginia public schools, and graduated from Virginia universities. After retiring from Active Duty, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland continued to dedicate his career to strengthening our national security. Whether serving on Capitol Hill, in the private sector, or in the nonprofit community, he has earned a reputation for steady leadership, a positive outlook, kindness, and professionalism. These qualities have been a source of strength for the many people he has led, mentored, and taught throughout his career. At AUSA, headquartered in Arlington, VA, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland led the development and implementation of the association's outreach and advocacy strategy to advance AUSA's priorities before Congress and the executive branch. AUSA's government affairs mission is to educate, inform, and connect in support of the total Army through consistent, principled, and effective advocacy. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland has excelled in every aspect of that mission and has often remarked that it has been one of the greatest honors of his career to advocate for soldiers, Army civilians, veterans, retirees, and military families. He will be missed by all who have had the privilege to work with him. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's commitment to service extends well beyond his professional career. He and Toni are active parishioners at Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, where Mark ministers to homebound seniors and volunteers to help provide meals for those experiencing food insecurity. He also remains deeply engaged in Virginia's military and veterans community through the American Legion and the Military Officers Association of America. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland has served the Nation he loves with distinction and has been an exemplary leader for soldiers, his coworkers, and his community. On behalf of the U.S. Senate, we thank LTC Mark L. Haaland, his wife Toni, and their entire [[Page S4560]] family for their decades of commitment, sacrifice, and service to our Nation and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We join our colleagues in wishing him a long, healthy, and joyful retirement. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4559-S4560] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK L. HAALAND Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an exemplary Virginian and outstanding citizen, LTC Mark L. Haaland, U.S. Army, Retired. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland is retiring from his position as director of government affairs for the Association of the United States Army, AUSA, where he has been a leading advocate and voice for the total Army--Regular Army, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, Army civilians, Army families, and veterans--for nearly 8 years. He exemplifies a lifetime of commitment and service to our Nation, his community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and his family. As the son of an Army officer and Vietnam war veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland knew from a young age that his life's path would be one of service. After his family moved to Hampton, VA, in 1972, when his father was assigned to the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Mark attended Kecoughtan High School, where he met his future wife Toni Minetti. Following his graduation in 1975, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the Class of 1979 before beginning a 20-year Army career as an armor officer serving in operational units and on the Army staff at the Pentagon. Virginia has remained central to Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's life and service. He and Toni, a Hampton native whose father Pat Minetti devoted his own career to public service as a Hampton police officer before retiring as the city's chief of police, were married at Fort Monroe in 1979. During Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's Army service, the family returned to Hampton, while he served at the Army Training and Doctrine Command. Since his assignment to Headquarters, Department of the Army in 1993, Mark and Toni have made Fairfax County their home for more than three decades. Both of their children were born in Virginia, attended Virginia public schools, and graduated from Virginia universities. After retiring from Active Duty, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland continued to dedicate his career to strengthening our national security. Whether serving on Capitol Hill, in the private sector, or in the nonprofit community, he has earned a reputation for steady leadership, a positive outlook, kindness, and professionalism. These qualities have been a source of strength for the many people he has led, mentored, and taught throughout his career. At AUSA, headquartered in Arlington, VA, Lieutenant Colonel Haaland led the development and implementation of the association's outreach and advocacy strategy to advance AUSA's priorities before Congress and the executive branch. AUSA's government affairs mission is to educate, inform, and connect in support of the total Army through consistent, principled, and effective advocacy. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland has excelled in every aspect of that mission and has often remarked that it has been one of the greatest honors of his career to advocate for soldiers, Army civilians, veterans, retirees, and military families. He will be missed by all who have had the privilege to work with him. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland's commitment to service extends well beyond his professional career. He and Toni are active parishioners at Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, where Mark ministers to homebound seniors and volunteers to help provide meals for those experiencing food insecurity. He also remains deeply engaged in Virginia's military and veterans community through the American Legion and the Military Officers Association of America. Lieutenant Colonel Haaland has served the Nation he loves with distinction and has been an exemplary leader for soldiers, his coworkers, and his community. On behalf of the U.S. Senate, we thank LTC Mark L. Haaland, his wife Toni, and their entire [[Page S4560]] family for their decades of commitment, sacrifice, and service to our Nation and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We join our colleagues in wishing him a long, healthy, and joyful retirement. ____________________