[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E640-E641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COLONEL THOMAS M. (``MITCH'') DOCKENS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2001

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend a soldier, patriot ant 
exceptional leader, Colonel Thomas M. (``Mitch'' Dockens, the Commander 
of the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), who will receive the 
prestigious 13th annual John W. Macy, Jr. Award co-sponsored by the 
Secretary of the Army and the Army Civilian Personnel Alumni 
Association.
  This award recognizes excellence in the leadership of civilians and 
accomplishment of mission through the civilian work force. Col. 
Dockens' exceptional leadership of the CCAD work force is recognized 
for the period of July 15, 1999, through December 31, 2000; but his 
excellence and leadership will always be recognized and appreciated in 
South Texas where his good works are legendary. Col. Dockens has been 
an extraordinary leader of the United States Army's only depot-level 
rotary wing (helicopter) repair facility in the world.
  Col. Mitch Dockens is a uniquely qualified officer to lead a civilian 
workforce. He knows how to bring people together; he can speak to 
management and labor, and is respected by both. He knows how to produce 
the best product for the fighting men and women at the best price for 
the U.S. taxpayer. The mutual respect he has fostered at CCAD is the 
secret weapon of this one-of-a-kind asset in the United States Army. He 
and his lovely wife Lynne, who treats the base as extended family, have 
reinforced the morale at CCAD.
  The Corpus Christi Army Depot, with 2,654 civilian employees, is the 
largest industrial employer in South Texas and is responsible for the 
repair, overhaul and maintenance of a wide variety of rotary wing 
aircraft and related engines and components for the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, Marines, and friendly foreign nations.
  Let me give you one example of Col. Dockens' leadership. Last year, 
when defective transmission gears threatened the CH-47 and Apache 
helicopter's flight safety, the Army looked to the private sector to 
inspect and replace the defective parts. However, the Army found no 
private sector firm capable of completing the work within the Army's 
established time frames. The potential contractors had too much 
commercial work that they were contractually obligated to complete 
before they could address the Army's safety issue. With the fleets 
grounded, CCAD was the only available repair source able to meet the 
Army's time frames. In fact, CCAD completed the work on the Apache 
helicopter fleet before the potential private sector source said it 
could even begin the repair.
  The award Col. Dockens will receive is named for John W. Macy, Jr., a 
distinguished public official who served four presidents and

[[Page E641]]

led the efforts to recognize outstanding individuals in the Army in the 
field of civilian personnel management.
  Col. Dockens' first assignment was the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort 
Bragg. As he moved up through the ranks in the Army, he commanded a 
host of operations before coming to CCAD. Just prior to his service at 
CCAD, he attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, and served 
as Chief, Material Readiness Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of 
Staff for Logistics.
  His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, (5th 
Leaf, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National 
Defense Service, Overseas Ribbon, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, 
Kuwait Liberation Medal, NATO Medal. He is a Senior Army Aviator and is 
Airborne and Air Assault qualified.
  Col. Dockens was named the Macy award winner on April 13, 2001, and 
will receive the award in an official presentation from Acting 
Secretary of the Army, Dr. Joseph Westphal, at a Pentagon ceremony on 
Thursday, May 3, 2001. 1 ask my colleagues to join me in commending 
this military leader of a civilian workforce and honor him for his work 
and his outstanding leadership.

                          ____________________