TRIBUTE TO KAREN GOODE
Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 101
(Senate - June 14, 2022) PDF
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, it is an honor to pay tribute
today to Ms. Karen Goode, who has retired after 47 years of dedicated
public service with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional
Office in Jackson, MS. Since becoming a U.S. Senator in 2018, I have
come to appreciate Ms. Goode who has earned consistent high praise from
my State office staff responsible for assisting veterans with their VA
claims. Karen's knowledge, responsiveness, reliability, and
trustworthiness have enabled me to serve Mississippi's veterans
better and more effectively, and I am very thankful to her for that.
Karen began her career with the VA in 1975 in a clerical position
with the finance department. A GS-3 at the time she was hired, Karen is
retiring as a GS-13 supervisory veterans service representative, which
is evidence of her meritorious work leading to continual promotions
throughout her Federal civil service career. In the process, she
acquired the knowledge and skill sets for processing all claims for
compensation, pension, education, vocational, and rehabilitation. Ms.
Goode's thorough understanding of the claims review process, along with
her excellent management skills, propelled her into key senior
leadership roles that led her to supervising seven different employee
teams over her VA career.
Ms. Goode's high degree of professionalism earned her multiple
special recognitions. At the recommendation of the veterans service
center manager, Karen in 2006 served as the representative for the
southern area on a quality assurance detail HELP team in Washington,
DC. In 2012, at the completion of a designated special project as
quality team coach, Karen obtained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
designation.
Even though Congress writes the laws regarding veterans' benefits, it
is up to teams set up within the VA to review veterans' claims and
determine if they are eligible for benefits. It can be a complex and
lengthy process, which I highly respect. Covering a broad range of
benefit categories, I understand the effectiveness in which VA team
member groups review and process claims can differ greatly. Despite
exercising most of her leadership away from the public eye,
Mississippi's veterans are fortunate to have been served by Ms. Karen
Goode for so many years working in this capacity. She has been
unwavering in her commitment to ensuring that Mississippi's veterans
receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the law.
In conclusion, I am incredibly grateful to Ms. Karen Goode for
dedicating her career to serving those who have served our country. I
commend her for her many accomplishments, and I send her my best wishes
for an enjoyable retirement.