[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO TOMMY F. GRIER

 Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Tommy F. Grier, who is retiring as the director of the Division of 
Emergency Management for the State of Colorado after spending more than 
12 years in the emergency management field.
  Colorado has been honored to have Tommy, a leading expert in the 
field of operational design and preparedness, helping to establish 
Colorado as a leader in the areas of homeland security and emergency 
management. Prior to working for the State of Colorado, BG Tommy F. 
Grier served his country as an operations officer in the U.S. Army with 
assignments spanning the gamut of organizations from battalion though 
division level. He is a graduate of both the Naval War College and the 
Army War College.
  Tommy had a long and distinguished military career, earning the 
Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the 
Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze 
Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with four 
Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with ``V'' device and Numeral ``40'', the 
Army Commendation Medal, the master Parachutist Badge, Senior Army 
Aviator Badge, Special Forces Tab, and Army Staff Identification Badge.
  He received his commission on August 16, 1962, through the U.S. Army 
Reserve Officers Training Corps. In July 1963, he was transferred to 
the Special Forces Training Group where he served as executive officer 
to the commander and then subsequently as an instructor.
  In 1966, he began the first of two tours in Southeast Asia, serving 
as an armed helicopter section leader with the 121st Aviation Company 
in the Republic of Vietnam; as Operations Officer, 25th Aviation 
Battalion, 25th Infantry Division during the Cambodian Incursion, and 
he commanded the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in I Corps, II Corps, and 
Laos.
  Grier's assignments included the Directorate, Office of the Deputy 
Chief of Staff for Operations in Washington, DC; Executive to the 
Director of Requirements; Senior Operations Officer, Joint Staff for 
Planning and Controlling for ``Jack Frost '79''--a full-scale military 
joint force readiness exercise; Chief, Infantry and Armor Branch, 
Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate, Military Personnel Center; 
and Operations Officer, 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, CA.
  From July 1987 until his retirement from active duty, he served as 
Senior Advisor for the Colorado Army National Guard. Brigadier General 
Tommy F. Grier was appointed Assistant Adjutant general and Commander 
of the Army National Guard on Oct. 1, 1993. He retired from the 
Colorado Army National Guard in 1996.
  While serving as the Assistant Adjutant General for Army and 
commander of the Colorado Army National Guard, Brigadier General F. 
Tommy Grier oversaw the participation of State troops and assets for 
World Youth Day 1993 where more than half a million pilgrims traveled 
to Denver to hear Pope John Paul II deliver his international message 
of peace. Tommy has also planned, directed, and participated in 
countless search and rescue missions both domestically and abroad.
  With relentless emphasis on weapons of mass destruction, WMD, 
contingency planning, Tommy put Colorado in a very desirable position 
from a preparedness standpoint at a most appropriate time. In 
preparation for the Denver Summit of the Eight in 1997, he initiated 
and coordinated several innovative technical assistance visits from the 
Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Command.
  Tommy's remarkable insight undoubtedly set the benchmark for future 
programs. His WMD efforts in Colorado predate the Defense Against 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996, also known as the Nunn-Lugar-
Domenici amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 
year 1997, which stipulated the training of first responders to deal 
with WMD terrorist incidents.
  Tommy worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
FEMA, to ensure affected local communities received the support 
necessary to facilitate recovery during numerous Colorado emergencies, 
including the 1997 and the 1999 floods, the 2002 wildfires, and the 
``blizzard of the century'' in 2003.
  But perhaps Tommy's greatest contribution to the State of Colorado 
has been his efforts in helping modernize the State's emergency 
preparedness efforts. Playing a key role in the set up of the new 
Colorado Multi-Agency Coordination Center, MACC, and State Emergency 
Operations Center, SEOC, his in-depth knowledge and operational 
expertise has helped craft a nationwide model of excellence.
  Tommy and his wife Jan are the proud parents of three sons: Tom III, 
Jud, and Andy.
  I commend Tommy Grier for his dedicated service to his country, his 
commitment to ensuring public safety, and his leadership in emergency 
management. Colorado is a better place because Tommy Grier chose to 
serve.

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