During his opening statement at the Benghazi hearing Wednesday, former Dep. Mission Chief in Libya Gregory Hicks said he loved every day of his job until the aftermath of Benghazi.
HICKS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you ranking member, thank you members of the committee. I am a career public servant. Until the aftermath of Benghazi, I loved every day of my job. In my 21 years of government service prior to Tripoli, I earned a reputation for being an innovative policymaker who got the job done. I was promoted quickly and received numerous awards. People who worked for me rated my leadership and management skills highly. I have two Masters degrees from the University of Michigan in applied economics and modern Middle Eastern and North African studies. I have served my country extensively in the Mid East. Besides Libya, I served in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and the Gambia. I speak fluent Arabic. In Bahrain, my Shi'a opposition contacts gave me advanced warning of impending attacks on our embassy and anti-American demonstrations, allowing us to prepare and avoid injuries to staff. I learned that knowledge of local conditions and strong connections with the local population are as important as the strength and height of walls. One reason I am here is because I have pledged to the foreign service as part of my campaign to be state vice president of the American Foreign Service Association that none of us should ever again experience what we went through in Tripoli and Benghazi on 9/11/2012. After I arrived in Tripoli as Deputy Chief of Mission on July 31, 2012, I fast became known as the ambassador's bulldog because of my decisive management style. In the days immediately after the Benghazi attack, the president and Secretary of State praised my performance over the telephone. President Obama wrote the Libyan president expressing confidence in my abilities. Deputy Secretary Burns and General Ham told me how much they appreciated how I handled the night of the assault and its aftermath. I received written notes of commendation from undersecretary Wendy Sherman and executive secretary Stephen Mull. Larry Pope told me personally that my performance was near heroic. In February 1991, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. I'm here today to honor that oath. I look forward to answering your questions fully and truthfully. Thank you very much.