Floor SpeechNeutral2026-02-12

TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT

TaxesForeign PolicyDefenseCrime & JusticeVeterans

Context

On 2026-02-12, Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT" in the Senate. The speech addressed taxes and also covered foreign policy, defense. It referenced legislation including S606, S607.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S606-S607] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I submit this statement for the Record to recognize an extraordinary leader, patriot, and servant of our Nation, COL Matthew J. Jemmott, U.S. Army, on the occasion of his retirement following an exceptional 30-year career in service to our country. Colonel Jemmott's distinguished career is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of military service. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Colonel Jemmott began his military journey as an infantryman in the [[Page S607]] Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1999, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and criminal justice, and was commissioned as a military police officer. Throughout his career, Colonel Jemmott served in leadership positions ranging from platoon leader to Joint Task Force commander. His assignments took him across the globe, including Fort Bragg, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Italy, Germany, and Cuba. He deployed to Kosovo and Iraq and served two tours at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including as the Commander of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, leading over 1,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coastguardsmen. Colonel Jemmott's expertise extended beyond tactical operations to the critical realm of congressional affairs. Selected for the Army's Congressional Fellowship Program, he served in the Senate for 15 months, addressing issues such as defense, veterans' affairs, foreign policy, and appropriations. He later served as an Army legislative liaison, managing portfolios that included soldier equipping and wheeled tactical vehicles. In his final military assignment, Colonel Jemmott served as the legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and director of legislative affairs for the Joint Staff. In this role, he operated at the nexus of military strategy and legislative policy, providing critical guidance that shaped national defense priorities and strengthened civil-military relations. His strategic foresight and diplomatic acumen were instrumental in securing congressional support for key defense initiatives, budgets, and policy reforms. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S606-S607] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO COLONEL MATTHEW J. JEMMOTT Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I submit this statement for the Record to recognize an extraordinary leader, patriot, and servant of our Nation, COL Matthew J. Jemmott, U.S. Army, on the occasion of his retirement following an exceptional 30-year career in service to our country. Colonel Jemmott's distinguished career is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of military service. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Colonel Jemmott began his military journey as an infantryman in the [[Page S607]] Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1999, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and criminal justice, and was commissioned as a military police officer. Throughout his career, Colonel Jemmott served in leadership positions ranging from platoon leader to Joint Task Force commander. His assignments took him across the globe, including Fort Bragg, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Italy, Germany, and Cuba. He deployed to Kosovo and Iraq and served two tours at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including as the Commander of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, leading over 1,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coastguardsmen. Colonel Jemmott's expertise extended beyond tactical operations to the critical realm of congressional affairs. Selected for the Army's Congressional Fellowship Program, he served in the Senate for 15 months, addressing issues such as defense, veterans' affairs, foreign policy, and appropriations. He later served as an Army legislative liaison, managing portfolios that included soldier equipping and wheeled tactical vehicles. In his final military assignment, Colonel Jemmott served as the legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and director of legislative affairs for the Joint Staff. In this role, he operated at the nexus of military strategy and legislative policy, providing critical guidance that shaped national defense priorities and strengthened civil-military relations. His strategic foresight and diplomatic acumen were instrumental in securing congressional support for key defense initiatives, budgets, and policy reforms. ____________________