[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E914-E915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


TRIBUTE TO COL. JAMES VAN EPPS IN HONOR OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE U.S. 
                                  ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 1997

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man of 
great stature who is retiring after a distinguished career in the U.S. 
Army, Col. James Van Epps. Colonel Van Epps served in the U.S. Army 
with more than 30 years of dedicated service to our country.
  For the past 2 years Colonel Van Epps has held the position of 
Commander, North Central Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 
Chicago, IL. In this position, Colonel Van Epps faced the daunting task 
of solving water and land resource related problems in a 12 State area 
from North Dakota to New York, from the Canadian border to parts of 
Missouri. Colonel Van Epps manages a $380 million budget and directed 
the engineering, scientific, and support staff of approximately 2,700 
personnel who are engaged in civil works construction and environmental 
activities in this part of the United States. Included in this area are 
all of the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi River, in addition to 
the Souris, Red, and Rainey River Basins. The division's major missions 
include navigation, flood control, and disaster assistance as well as 
environmental restoration, regulatory functions, and significant 
support to the International Joint Commission.
  Colonel Van Epps has continually met challenges headon during his 
tenure, continuing the superb performance record of the North Central 
Division. Through his personal involvement, leadership and command 
attention, the Corps made notable progress in the pursuit of solutions 
to the unique problems which exist throughout the region.

[[Page E915]]

  Several very important projects were either initiated, underway or 
completed under his guidance. Projects which improved the quality of 
life in the North Central States included, the flood control projects 
at Fort Wayne and Little Calumet in Indiana; west Des Moines, IA; 
Chaska, MN; Souris River Basin and Devils Lake, ND and the Chicago 
Shoreline Project. Under his leadership, the division made great 
progress in the Mississippi River and Illinois River System Navigation 
Study and the Upper Mississippi River System--Environmental Management 
Program [EMP]. The EMP has provided funding to restore and improve the 
environmental aspects of numerous sites along the Upper Mississippi 
River System. The Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Navigation Study is 
the largest navigation study undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. The recommendations being developed under this study will 
affect and influence the economic well-being of the Nation in the next 
century.
  Under the leadership of Colonel Van Epps, the North Central Division 
achieved a program execution rate of 92 percent and the division has 
been ranked No. 1 or 2 nationwide among the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers in project costs and meeting schedules. Colonel Van Epps' 
compassionate and caring leadership earned him the respect and trust of 
the employees under his command. Consequently, Colonel Van Epps' strong 
commitment to public service has served the citizens of this part of 
the Nation with honor and professionalism.
  Colonel Van Epps graduated from the University of Illinois at 
Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering 
and earned a master of science degree in industrial engineering--
operations research--from Kansas State University. He is also a 
graduate of the engineer officer advanced course, the U.S. Army Command 
and General Staff College, and the National War College. In addition, 
he has received a certificate in executive education from the Duke 
University's Fuqua School of Business.

  Prior to the assignment to this position, Colonel Van Epps served as 
the U.S. Forces Command Engineer for 3 years and he served as Assistant 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and Installation Management.
  His previous experience with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
includes commanding the Huntington (WV) District from September 1990 to 
August 1992; serving as an Assistant Director of Civil Works at the 
Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC; and working as a civil engineer 
and program manager in the Chicago district.
  Colonel Van Epps was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation 
as the Distinguished Graduate of his Officer Candidate class in 
September 1967. During his initial assignment, he served as a platoon 
leader and company commander of the 518th Engineer Company--Combat, and 
as a staff officer in Headquarters 193d Infantry Brigade in the Canal 
Zone. Subsequent assignments include senior advisor to the combat 
engineer battalion of the 9th Infantry Division--Army of the Republic 
of Vietnam; Commander, Central Chicago Area, U.S. Army Engineer 
Recruiting Command; S-3 Officer and Executive Officer--Combat, V Corps, 
U.S. Army Europe; Commander, 299th Engineer Battalion--Combat at Fort 
Sill, OK; and Engineer Colonels Assignment Officer, U.S. Army Military 
Personnel Center in Alexandria, VA.
  His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star 
Medal--with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal--with four 
Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal--with 
Oak Leaf Cluster.
  Colonel Van Epps is married to the former Jane Henderson Ryan. They 
have three children: Geoffrey, who is also in the U.S. Army, Andrew and 
Amanda.
  I know you will all join with me and his employees in saying thank 
you to him for his loyal and dedicated service to our great country and 
to the citizens of the North Central Division region. Colonel Van Epps 
has given a major part of his life to the U.S. Army and is truly 
deserving of great honor for a career well served in the U.S. Army. We 
owe him a debt of gratitude for his many years of dedicated service to 
this country. Thank you Colonel Van Epps for your service to this 
country.

                          ____________________