[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT H. GRIFFIN, DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL, 
                      U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

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                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2005

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer tribute to a truly 
superb soldier and engineer, Major General Robert H. Griffin, on the 
occasion of his retirement as Deputy Commanding General of the United 
States Army Corps of Engineers. In so doing, I note that this is his 
second retirement this year--he left Corps Headquarters in August, but 
agreed to return last month to help guide the Corps through its 
response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  It has been my pleasure to know and work with General Griffin as he 
served this nation in three capacities--first as commander of the Corps 
of Engineers' Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, which includes my 
home district; then as Director of Civil Works; and finally as Deputy 
Commander of the Corps of Engineers.
  General Griffin's distinguished military service spanned 34 years of 
dedicated and honorable service to this nation. Since his graduation 
from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical 
Engineering and his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in 1971, he 
has led at every level of command. During his last ten years, while 
serving as commander of the Corps of Engineers District in Mobile, 
Alabama; Chief of Staff at Corps Headquarters in Washington; Commanding 
General of the Corps' Northwestern Division and then of the Great Lakes 
and Ohio River Division; Director of the $5 billion annual Army Civil 
Works program my subcommittee oversees; and finally as Deputy 
Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers; he significantly 
contributed to our nation's global goals and objectives.
  General Griffin's technical expertise and superior leadership have 
been critical to the success of the Army Corps of Engineers' many 
complex missions. His ability to handle complex tasks, large 
organizations, difficult negotiations and the most pressing problems 
has been truly remarkable. He has been equally adept at interacting 
with the highest levels of government, setting overall strategy for 
meeting the nation's military construction and water resource needs, 
and dealing with the intricacies of project design. The organizations 
he has led have been known for command climates that emphasize 
teamwork, common sense, prudent risk taking and mission accomplishment. 
All in all, I know of no finer member of our Army, and I wish him the 
best in the years ahead.

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