Recognizing Major Eric Hapner
Floor Speech
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Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Major Eric Hapner. He has dutifully served this Nation with exemplary dedication as an Army Congressional Fellow and Congressional Budget Liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army in the office of Financial Management and Comptroller.
Major Hapner recently left Capitol Hill to continue his service to our Nation and America's Army National Guard as the Legislative Liaison for the Adjutant General of Nevada.
After growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Hillsboro, Ohio, Major Hapner attended Miami University in Ohio where he earned his bachelor's degree in business and a minor in political science.
Initially enlisting in the Army National Guard as an infantryman, Major Hapner's first deployment was in support of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. In 2008, Major Hapner was commissioned as an aviation officer, attended flight school at Fort Novosel in Alabama to pilot the UH-60 Blackhawk, and distinguished himself as the Honor Graduate.
Major Hapner has served in a broad range of assignments during his Army career. He was the Assistant Operations officer and a Platoon leader in Alpha Company during his first Middle East deployment.
In 2015, he deployed with the Ohio and Colorado National Guards to Iraq as the Air Mission Officer in Command. In 2016, he was assigned as the Aviation Task Force Executive Officer in Illesheim, Germany.
Recently, Major Hapner served as the Deputy Executive Officer to the Director of the Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon. Eric's last flying position was as a UH-60 pilot in command where he led multinational aviation missions with Middle Eastern and European allies.
In addition to his Army assignments, Eric graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 2017. During law school, Eric pursued his passion of public service through multiple law clinics and internships ranging from county prosecutors to the Army JAG Corps and the Colorado Supreme Court. Additionally, Eric worked for Colorado State Senator Owen Hill, ultimately becoming his Chief of Staff.
In 2022, I had the privilege of working with Major Hapner in my office for the people of Alabama's Fourth Congressional District, where he served as an Army Congressional Fellow.
We continued working together during his subsequent assignment as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the U.S. Army. Major Hapner worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and their staff to accurately articulate the Army's budget priorities.
His professionalism, his integrity, and his commitment to the mission are unmatched, and his work ethic enabled him to successfully represent the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense in Congress.
Those lucky enough to travel with Eric to visit Army installations came to appreciate his profound insight, meticulous planning, and sage advice. Whatever journey you embark upon, there are few more reassuring sights than Eric sitting next to you.
No one knows this better than his family. Eric is a devoted husband to his wife, Hakela, who is currently attending law school at the McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, California. Eric met Hakela here on Capitol Hill and married in 2022.
Major Hapner's commitment to service and care for others permeates every organization and activity he participates in. Moreover, he exemplifies servant leadership for individuals in the Army and their communities to emulate.
Throughout his career, Major Hapner has positively impacted Soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited tremendously from his extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion.
I applaud Major Hapner for the job well done, and I hope that my colleagues in the House of Representatives will join me in wishing him and his family the very best in their future Army assignments and beyond.
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