January 9, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E63 

projects, congressional inquiry review and response, and primary command briefing responsibilities. 

Highlights of his service prior to DLI include: 

Defense and Army Attache ́, Uganda, July 

2005–July 2007. In this role, Lieutenant Colonel Skow advised the ambassador on Uganda’s continually shifting security situation. He 

coordinated with the Ugandan Army in dealing 

with the Lord’s Resistance Army and reported 

on the activities of this group in neighboring 

countries. Notably, he was instrumental in the 

recovery of five citizens from the UK, Australia 

and New Zealand after an attack by LRA insurgents. 

Army Attache ́, South Africa, January 2003– 

July 2005. Lieutenant Colonel Skow regularly 

reported on military issues in South Africa 

where he coordinated a joint training exercise 

between a U.S. Ranger company and the 

South African airborne regiment. Additionally 

he coordinated the procurement and transportation of South African mine resistant armored 

personnel vehicles, NYALA, and mine detection and IED detection vehicles, HUSKY, for 

deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Defense and Army Attache ́, Rwanda, October 1998–December 2001. Lieutenant Colonel 

Skow served as the primary military/political 

advisor to the ambassador during a violent insurgency in northwest Rwanda. He monitored 

the security situation in northwest Rwanda and 

advised the ambassador regarding travel restrictions for U.S. citizens. He was responsible 

for routine interface with Rwandan military personnel and interviewed insurgent prisoners of 

all ranks. In addition to providing current combat intelligence and information from the 

POWs, Lieutenant Colonel Skow also created 

a list of insurgents that were responsible for 

the murder of U.S. and UK tourists in Bwindi 

National Forest, Uganda. He then coordinated 

closely with the FBI to ensure they received all 

necessary support. 

In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to extend the gratitude of the House to Lieutenant 

Colonel Skow and his wife, Janice, for their 

service to the Nation and to wish them the 

very best in the future. 

f 

HONORING DIANNE FRITZ 

HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to congratulate Dianne Fritz upon her 

retirement as Mariposa County Supervisor, 

District IV. Supervisor Fritz will be honored by 

the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on 

Tuesday, December 16, 2008. 

Dianne Fritz was elected to the Mariposa 

County Board of Supervisors, District IV in 

2004 and officially took office in January 2005. 

In 2008 she served as Vice-Chair of the Board 

of Supervisors and also the Vice-Chair for the 

Mariposa County Local Transportation Commission. For the past four years, Supervisor 

Fritz has been involved in numerous projects, 

committees, and organizations. As supervisor 

she has served on the board of directors for 

numerous agencies and organizations including: Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency; National Association of Counties; 

San Joaquin Valley Regional Association of 

California Counties; Yosemite Area Regional 

Transportation System, YARTS, Joint Powers 

Authority; High Speed Rail Authority; San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee; and California 

State Association of Counties. She also 

served as board liaison member to the Fiscal 

and Educational Services and Justice System 

Services area, the Yosemite Gateway 

Socioeconomics Workshops, and for the California State Mining and Mineral Exhibit issues. 

Supervisor Fritz worked tirelessly on many 

projects benefiting the county that ranged from 

community planning and development, wastewater treatment facilities, recreation facilities, 

road and fire station maintenance, airport improvements, and restoration of the Mariposa 

Courthouse. During her tenure there were natural disasters that she worked diligently on, for 

example the floods of 2005, the Ferguson 

Rock Slide Disaster of 2006, and the recent 

wild fires of 2008. 

Supervisor Fritz has worked on many issues 

pertaining to economic development. She was 

instrumental in the privatization of the Visitors’ 

Bureau, with the formation of the Yosemite/ 

Mariposa County Tourism Bureau and fought 

the closure of Mount Bullion Youth Conservation Camp. She also worked on the General 

Plan update for Mariposa County, improvements to community parks, health care, public 

safety and agri-nature tourism. Supervisor 

Fritz has always been active in the community; she performed with the Vagina Monologs 

and other fundraising activities in support of 

the Mountain Crisis Services programs for victims. She also coordinates the ‘‘Las Mariposas 

Civil War Days Re-enactment’’. She is an active member of Soroptimist International, 

Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce, the 

Order of the Eastern Star and the Republican 

Central Committee. Supervisor Fritz has been 

an integral member of the Mariposa County 

Board of Supervisors, and her impact on the 

county will be displayed for years to come. 

Madam Speaker, Speaker, I rise today to 

commend and congratulate Supervisor Dianne 

Fritz upon her retirement from the Mariposa 

County Board of Supervisors. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Supervisor Fritz 

many years of continued success. 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with REMARKS