[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          COL. MICHAEL D. BROWNELL RETIRES FROM THE U.S. ARMY

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Col. Michael D. 
Brownell, who will retire from the U.S. Army on October 1, 1994 after 
completing a long and distinguished career of more than 40 years of 
service to our Nation. I want to take a few minutes to highlight some 
of his contributions and accomplishments.
  On September 22, 1954, Colonel Brownell enlisted in the Washington 
National Guard as a private at the age of 17. He was commissioned a 
Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in September 1964, and 
served in a variety of assignments.
  Colonel Brownell entered on a statutory tour of active duty as a 
Captain in June 1975 at Headquarters, First United States Army, Fort 
George Meade, Maryland. This was the forerunner of the Active Guard 
Reserve [AGR] Program, as it is known today, and he was one of its 
earliest members. His initial duty assignment was as Chief, Senior 
Officer Branch, Headquarters, First United States Army, managing Army 
Reserve general officer and colonel command positions throughout the 
First Army Area.
  Three years later, Colonel Brownell was selected for the position of 
General Management Officer in the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, 
Department of the Army, a position which he held for 6 years. In 
October 1984, he was selected for the position of chief of the Command 
Coordination Branch of the newly-established Army Reserve Personnel 
Center in St. Louis, MO. He later served as chief of the Command 
Support Division at the same Center. His performance of duty in these 
assignments was outstanding.
  In August 1986, Colonel Brownell, returned to the Pentagon as a 
Personnel Staff Officer in the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, 
managing a variety of officer personnel programs including the 
development of a professional development plan for Army Reserve 
soldiers. He as later assigned as a Personnel Officer in the Officer 
Accession Branch of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Personnel, Department of the Army until his selection for promotion to 
the grade of Colonel.
  Since February 1989, Colonel Brownell has served as Staff Director 
and Senior Army Reserve Policy Advisor of the Reserve Forces Policy 
Board in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. This Board is, by 
statute, the ``principle policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on 
matters relating to the Reserve components,'' In that capacity, Colonel 
Brownell demonstrated outstanding leadership, professional knowledge 
and skill in developing and recommending policies on a broad range of 
issues that have substantially contributed to the readiness and 
effectiveness of the National Guard and the Reserve components of the 
United States Armed Forces.

  Colonel Brownell's initial assignment with the Reserve Forces Policy 
Board was an editor of the fiscal year 1989 annual report to the 
President and Congress entitled, Reserve Component Programs. This 
publication provides information on Reserve component programs and 
issues. The annual reports are especially valuable to Congress on 
matters relating to the Reserve components.
  Colonel Brownell subsequently served as Staff Director of the Board's 
Personnel Committee during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, and was 
instrumental in developing over 150 recommendations and resolutions 
which were adopted by the board to achieve equity in pay and 
entitlements for members of the Reserve components who served in the 
Persian Gulf war.
  Colonel Brownell also assisted and was instrumental in the planning 
and the conduct of a symposium that complied and correlated the 
experiences of Army Reserve Civil Affairs units and personnel in the 
Persian Gulf. His exceptional service contributed to the publication of 
the symposium proceedings which constitutes permanent documentation of 
Civil Affairs service during Operations Desert Shield/Storm and Provide 
Comfort.
  Colonel Brownell's civilian education includes an Associate of Arts 
degree from Olympic College in Bremerton, WA, and a Bachelor of Arts 
degree from the University of Washington; he received both degrees in 
1959. In 1969 he earned a Master of Public Administration from the 
University of Washington School of Public Affairs.
  While on active duty, Colonel Brownell completed the Army Command and 
General Staff College, the National Security Management Program at 
Harvard University and the Personnel Management for Executives Course. 
He continues to serve as a member of the faculty of the Army Training 
Center for the Personnel Management for Executives Course.
  Colonel Brownell is a native of Bremerton, WA, and resides in 
Arlington, VA, with his wife, Janell. They have two daughters, Sandra 
and Melinda: Sandi is a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and 
Mindy is a Regular Army First Lieutenant stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.
  Colonel Brownell is a member of the Board of Directors of the 
Northwest Ethics Institute. He is a life member of the Reserve Officers 
Association of the United States and the Retired Offices Association. 
He is also an Honorary Member of the Civil Affairs Association.
  Colonel Brownell's decorations include the Defense Superior Service 
Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army 
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army 
Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous others.
  Mr. President, Colonel Brownell is an extraordinary soldier. I have 
been impressed by his outstanding service and contributions to our 
nation by his service in our Armed Forces. As he prepares to retire 
from military service, I congratulate and thank for him for his many 
years of outstanding service to our nation.

                          ____________________