[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO COL. RANDALL INOUYE, COMMANDER, BALTIMORE DISTRICT, U.S. 
                        ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Col. Randall Inouye, Commander of the Baltimore District, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers. Col. Inouye is moving on to a new assignment in the 
Pentagon and I want to express my appreciation for the fine work that 
he has done.
  In the 3 short years in which Col. Inouye has commanded the Baltimore 
District he has proved to be one of the best and most accomplished 
District Engineers. During his tenure in Baltimore, the colonel helped 
spearhead Maryland's flood mitigation task force--a Federal, State, and 
local partnership effort to help communities rebuild after the 
devastating floods of 1996. This task force is now being used as a 
model for similar efforts throughout the nation. Under his leadership, 
the Poplar Island restoration project--the largest habitat restoration 
project ever undertaken in the United States--was initiated. Poplar 
Island is the first large-scale project to make beneficial use of 
dredged material and will help protect and promote the recovery of the 
Chesapeake Bay while at the same time preserving the vitality of the 
Port of Baltimore. Similarly, Col. Inouye was responsible for many 
other important environmental restoration and water resource 
development activities in the region, including the successful 
restoration of 32 acres of emergent tidal wetlands at Kenilworth 
Marsh--the largest and last remaining freshwater tidal wetland on the 
Anacostia; the Maryland coastal bays initiative; and the Tolchester and 
Brewerton Channel improvement projects, to name only a few. As District 
Engineer, Col. Inouye also directed and oversaw the succeessful 
completion of numerous military construction projects in Maryland from 
the Army's Research Labs at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Adelphi to the 
Defense Information School at Fort Meade to the new Walter Reed Army 
Institute of Research at Forest Glen.
  I came to know Col. Inouye shortly after he assumed command of the 
Baltimore District and have had the privilege of working closely with 
him over the past three years on many initiatives throughout Maryland, 
including those mentioned above. In every instance, the Colonel has 
distinguished himself for his responsiveness and commitment to getting 
the job done. He has set a new standard of excellence and 
accomplishment for other District Engineers to emulate.
  In recognition of his outstanding service to the Baltimore District 
and other commands, Col. Inouye has received numerous awards and 
commendations including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service 
Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. But perhaps more importantly, 
his efforts have earned him the respect and admiration of everyone with 
whom he has worked. I know that many Marylanders join me in expressing 
appreciation for his contributions toward improving the quality of life 
in our State and in wishing him the best in his new endeavors.

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