[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 147 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING U.S. ARMY COLONEL DANIEL DEVLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 4, 2000

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor a true 
patriot, soldier and citizen. U.S. Army Colonel Daniel Devlin, who has 
helped shape thousands of young soldiers as the Installation Commander 
at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center and Presidio 
of Monterey, will be retiring from the Army after 31 years of service 
to his country.
  Colonel Devlin began his service as an Armor Second Lieutenant in 
1969, having graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from North 
Dakota State University. After service in various assignments from 
1969-1976, he was selected for Soviet/East European Foreign Officer 
training, and attended civilian schools, the U.S. Army Russian 
Institute, and Command and General Staff College. From 1983-88 he 
served in the 66th Military Intelligence Group/Brigade with various 
assignments, and from 1988-90 he commanded the 6th Psychological 
Operations Battalion (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Colonel Devlin 
served as the Deputy Commander, 4th Psychological Operations Group in 
Saudi Arabia, then as a liaison officer to the American Embassy in 
Cairo, and finally as a liaison officer to the Joint Special Operations 
Command. In June of 1992, Colonel Devlin was assigned to the Pentagon 
as Chief of Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs for the Joint 
Staff.
  My close association with Colonel Devlin began in February of 1996, 
when he came to Monterey to begin his tenure as Installation Commander 
of the Defense Language Institute and Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), 
the premier foreign language school for the Department of Defense. His 
tenure at DLIFLC has resulted in a stronger and more vibrant academic 
and military institution. He created a teaching environment for DLI's 
highly qualified native language proficiency faculty that encouraged 
them to enhance their professionalism, resulting in the highest student 
proficiency scores. Language proficiency is an equally important aspect 
of post-Cold War military readiness. Also, Col. Devlin initiated a 
culture of ``customer service'' among the faculty and staff at the 
installation, through such means as pay increases based on merit and 
student performance.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the unique distinction among my colleagues of 
representing the former Fort Ord, the largest closed military base in 
the nation. As the Installation Commander who oversaw the closure of a 
military community that once housed 29,000 residents, Colonel Devlin 
and I had the opportunity to work closely together, and I can truly 
attest to his leadership qualities, commitment to duty, attention to 
detail and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to 
ensure the smoothest possible transition to civilian use of the 
nation's largest piece of military real estate. While some of the most 
difficult challenges of closing the former Ford Ord are behind us, I 
regret that I am losing a close associate as the next phase of economic 
revitalization occurs on the Monterey Peninsula.
  Webster's Dictionary defines friend as ``a person whom one knows, 
likes and trust.'' Colonel Dan Devlin has truly been a friend to all 
residents of the Monterey Peninsula, and I am proud to call him my 
friend. I know all present today join me in wishing Colonel Devlin and 
his family a richly deserved retirement.

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