[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 130 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1859]]


                         HONORING JOE R. REEDER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 1997

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Mr. Moran of 
Virginia, and I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Joe R. Reeder who is 
retiring as the 14th Under Secretary of the Army.
  Joe has long served his country and been involved in public affairs. 
A native of Washington State who has lived in the metro area for the 
past 20 years, Joe calls himself a transplanted Texan from his time 
spent in school there.
  Joe married the former Katharine Boyce in 1983. Katharine is also an 
attorney. Together, they have raised four wonderful daughters. They 
currently live in Alexandria.
  After graduating from West Point in 1970, Joe completed training at 
the Airborne, Ranger and Artillery basic school. Joe then served in the 
82nd Airborne Division until he entered law school in 1972. At that 
time, he relocated to his beloved Texas to attend the University of 
Texas where he earned his juris doctorate degree while working as a 
prosecutor at Fort Sam Houston, TX.
  Joe completed a 1-year Federal clerkship before moving to Washington, 
DC. When Joe came to the Nation's Capitol, he returned to school and 
earned his master of laws from Georgetown University. He also continued 
his work for the military by serving as a trial attorney in the Army's 
Litigation Division. This position required that he represent the 
Department of Defense in Federal court actions pending throughout the 
United States. He was soon promoted, and moved to the Army's Contract 
Appeals Division where he represented the Department of Defense in a 
wide range of Government contract-related litigation.
  Joe left the Department of Defense in 1979 when he moved to the 
Washington, DC based law firm of Patton, Boggs, & Blow. By 1983, he had 
made partner at this distinguished firm and was widely respected by his 
colleagues for his knowledge of complex commercial litigation including 
litigation involving Government contracting law and legal ethics.
  In 1993, Joe was sworn in as the Under Secretary of the Army. He is 
the principal civilian assistant and Deputy to the Secretary of the 
Army. Joe acts with the full authority of the Secretary in general 
management of the Army. He is responsible for the long-range planning, 
material requirements, readiness, acquisition reform, infrastructure 
reduction, and financial management. Joe has spent the past 4 years 
preparing our Army for the 21st century and helping to shape its 
continued international leadership role. He serves as one of the Army's 
top officials for international affairs and has worked tirelessly on 
issues involving NATO and Panama. In that capacity, Joe has served as 
the Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission's Board of Directors. In 
addition, he oversees the military support to local, State, and Federal 
agencies related to civilian law enforcement, civil disturbance, 
disaster relief, and emergency planning. Joe has managed these many 
tasks during his tenure with ceaseless energy and an innovative style.
  Mr. Speaker, we know our colleagues join us in honoring and thanking 
the Honorable Joe Reeder for his devotion to the U.S. Army. We 
appreciate all the hard work he has done in preparing our Army for the 
next century. Joe's vision and spirit are truly remarkable.

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