[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LIEUTENANT COLONEL GABRIEL PATRICIO

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I welcome this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel R. Patricio, who is concluding a 24-year 
career of dedication and excellence in the United States Marines. At 
the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA in recent years, he 
has had a leading role in modernizing combat clothing and equipment to 
make troops faster, more efficient, lighter and safer in battle. 
Colonel Patricio's talents have produced the most significant upgrade 
in individual clothing and combat equipment for Marines in more than 50 
years.
  Colonel Patricio's ability to think outside-the-box served him well 
in finding better ways to solve old problems. His innovative ideas have 
reduced the time it takes to move a product from concept to the field; 
so that life-saving equipment is being made available to Marines more 
quickly. As an example, he reached across the services to the Army's 
Research and Development Center in Natick, MA to take advantage of 
their cutting-edge technology, which is now saving lives in Iraq.
  Most recently, Colonel Patricio spearheaded an initiative to develop 
and field a state-of-the-art, on-the-move water purification and 
hydration system. Under his leadership, Systems Command and two private 
companies pooled their resources and expertise to create a pen-sized 
device that troops are now using to make local water clean and 
drinkable.
  Colonel Patricio has successfully managed programs to develop and 
field other products to enhance the safety and performance of our 
troops in Iraq and elsewhere, including new, lightweight and more 
protective body armor; new protection for the face and eyes; 
lightweight helmets; improved load-bearing backpacks; hot weather, 
lightweight ``Jungle/Desert'' boots; high performance lightweight and 
heavyweight Polartec fleece clothing; and specialized mountain and 
cold-weather clothing, including gloves, boots and jackets.
  Colonel Patricio has served the Marines, and the Nation well. I 
congratulate him on his many outstanding contributions, and I wish him 
a long and happy and healthy retirement.

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