[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1468-E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    HONORING COL. ROBERT J. COUGHLIN'S RETIREMENT FROM THE U.S. ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor Col. Robert J. Coughlin, who is retiring in November from the 
U.S. Army, after may years of devoted service. Col. Robert J. Coughlin 
will officially retire on November 1, 1997, after 28 years of active 
service to the U.S. Army. He began his Army career shortly after 
graduating from Northeastern University, with a B.S. degree in chemical 
engineering, and marrying Kathy, his wife of over 28 years. In 1969, he 
was promoted to 1st Lt. and served as a chemical engineer and company 
commander at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. In 1971, he was assigned 
to Fort Carson, CO, and was promoted to the rank of captain. In January 
1973, the Coughlins moved to New Orleans where Captain Coughlin 
graduated from Tulane University with a masters degree in chemical 
engineering. After serving a tour in Germany, Major Coughlin attended 
the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, RI, and went on to 
serve as a chemistry instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. After 
serving as one of the best chemistry instructors in the armed services, 
Major Coughlin was sent to Fort McClellan, and promoted to the rank of 
Lt. Col. After his tour at McClellan, he and his family again moved to 
Germany, this time to the 1st Armored Division Headquarters located in 
Ansbach. During his second tour in Germany, he was selected to serve as 
the battalion commander at Fort McClellan in 1990. While serving at 
Fort McClellan, he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and selected to 
attend the Air War College in Montgomery, AL. He then served as the 
director of training at Fort McClellan before assuming his current 
command at the Deseret Chemical Depot, in Tooele, UT.
  Colonel Coughlin commanded the Deseret Chemical Depot through a very 
difficult period and was personally responsible for its successful 
standup as a separate Army installation with an annual operating budget 
of over $25 million. Through his hard work and dedication he earned an 
unprecedented high level of trust from local citizens, as well as State 
and local officials, overcoming great opposition to the start up of the 
first full-scale chemical demilitarization facility within CONUS. Under 
Colonel Coughlin's command the Tooele Chemical Demilitarization 
Facility has safely destroyed thousands of obsolete chemical weapons 
and over 1,000,000 pounds of chemical agent. His leadership was 
critical to ensuring high levels of emergency preparedness and the 
maximum safety of depot workers and the public from the risks 
associated with the chemical stockpile stored at the Deseret Chemical 
Depot.
  Throughout his Army career, Colonel Coughlin has displayed unique 
abilities to manage and lead. Colonel Coughlin's leadership 
consistently earns the untiring trust of the

[[Page E1469]]

work force under his command, and helps them to produce at levels far 
above of expectations. He has always gained the respect, loyalty, and 
dedicated service of the managers and employees that have had the good 
fortune to work with or for him. When he retires on November 1, 1997, 
the Army will lose the service of a good man and a dedicated public 
servant. His contributions have been many, and the positive effect he 
has had throughout his career on those that he has worked with will 
long be appreciated. Colonel Coughlin has been an invaluable asset to 
the U.S. Army and the United States of America. I personally wish to 
take this time to thank Colonel Coughlin, his wife Kathy, and their two 
daughters, Karyn and Kelli, for the many sacrifices they have 
undoubtedly made in the service of our Nation. I wish them all the best 
of luck in the future.

                          ____________________