[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E799-E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK SCHOENROCK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM OSBORNE

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2006

  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Mark Schoenrock faithfully served 
as a U.S. Army officer for 28 years in positions of increasing 
responsibility. His performance of his duties and contributions to the 
United States of America over the course of his career were truly 
outstanding. He was recognized with two awards of the Legion of Merit, 
seven awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army 
Commendation Medal, among other awards.
  He was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army on May 13, 1978, in 
Lincoln, Nebraska, upon graduation from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln and the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, ROTC. He was a 
four-year Army ROTC scholarship winner, graduated from the University 
with distinction, and was an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. He 
completed the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, 
with honors and was assigned as an Assistant Brigade Logistics Officer, 
Platoon Leader, and Battalion Logistics Officer with the 25th Infantry 
Division (Tropic Lightning) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. While 
assigned to the Tropic Lightning Division, Lt. Col. Schoenrock deployed 
with his unit three times to the Republic of Korea. He was consistently 
cited as being an outstanding young officer. The areas for which he was 
responsible excelled during numerous external inspections. His dining 
facility won the Connelly Award as being among the best in the Army.
  Following his 3 years in Hawaii, Lt. Col. Schoenrock completed the 
Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, again 
graduating with honors. He was selected as the Outstanding Logistician 
for the course. He was subsequently assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, and 
the First Infantry Division, Big Red One, where he served as a company 
commander and maneuver brigade logistics officer. He was consistently 
rated among the top officers in the entire brigade. He led the ROTC 
Third Region advanced camp transportation mission. In this effort, his 
soldiers drove over 1,000 missions covering over 170,000 miles 
flawlessly. As the First Brigade logistics officer, he deployed twice 
to the Federal Republic of Germany in support of Operation Reforger. He 
was responsible for the entire logistical support (supply, maintenance 
and transportation) of 2,500 soldiers and 298 tracked vehicles. During 
Reforger, he ensured the brigade's safe and efficient transport from 
Kansas to Germany and return. He also deployed five times to the 
National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California in his capacity as a 
company commander and maneuver brigade logistics officer. As a company 
commander, he was cited as always coming through in a first class, 
professional manner. As the brigade logistics officer, he was cited by 
the brigade commander for his mature judgment, poise under stress, 
technical competence, positive nature, willingness to learn, great 
energy and dedication to excellence.

  Upon the completion of his 4-year tour at Fort Riley, Lt. Col. 
Schoenrock was selected to represent the Army in the highly competitive 
Training With Industry (TWI) program. He served as the Army's first 
representative with the General Motors Corporation, Allison Gas Turbine 
Division. He played an instrumental role in the development of the T-
800 engine, which was the engine in the Army's Comanche helicopter. 
General Motors cited him as a credit to the U.S. Army.
  Following TWI, Lt. Col. Schoenrock served as a Contracting Officer 
and Contracting Section Chief in St. Louis, Missouri, responsible for 
the development and acquisition of petroleum logistics and water 
logistics. He was responsible for the acquisition of many end items 
that served our soldiers during Operation Desert Storm and that were 
vital to the United States' ultimate victory in the deserts of 
southwest Asia. He was cited by the Contracting Director as the best 
military section chief in the entire directorate. He then was selected 
to attend the Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in resident 
status at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
  Following CGSC graduation, Lt. Col. Schoenrock was selected to be the 
principal acquisition advisor to the Inspector General of the Army in 
Washington. In this role, he advised and assisted the Inspector General 
with some of the Army's most sensitive acquisition programs and other 
matters. He routinely was responsible for matters of national 
importance and interest. He was cited as consistently demonstrating 
those traits that are expected

[[Page E800]]

from the Army's best officers. He then was selected to serve as an 
executive officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army 
(Research, Development and Acquisition). He served as a key facilitator 
in preparing the Army leadership for senior level Secretary of Defense 
and Congressional reviews for programs that were valued in excess of 
$30 billion. He excelled in managing all administration, logistics 
support, security and automation to support 37 senior civilian and 
military personnel. His senior executive service supervisor called him 
the best officer with whom he had ever served.
  He then was selected to serve as a liaison with the U.S. Congress. 
Lt. Col. Schoenrock worked directly with the Army leadership and with 
Members of Congress and their staffs in resolving matters of the utmost 
national sensitivity and urgency. He ensured that programs that total 
billions of dollars were wisely and prudently executed to provide 
maximum benefit to the Army and to the communities that are closely 
related to the Army. He excelled as the principal congressional 
coordinator for the prime vendor support initiative. This is the lead 
Army program in which the Army is considering the outsourcing of the 
entire wholesale logistics of a principal major weapons system, with 
cost savings of $1.8 billion. He flawlessly announced nearly 1,000 
contract actions, each valued in excess of $5 million, to over 3,500 
Members of Congress, totaling $22.5 billion. He was an influential and 
visible spokesman on Capitol Hill.
  In his last assignment, Lt. Col. Schoenrock excelled as the Inspector 
General for the State of Colorado. He advised and assisted the State of 
Colorado military leadership in the conduct of all military functions 
for 5,000 soldiers and airmen. He trained the Republic of Slovenia 
Defense Inspectorate in the conduct of inspector general functions as 
part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Partnership for 
Peace Program. He also established the effort to develop the 
legislative liaison function between the Slovene Minister of Defense 
and the Slovene Parliament. His efforts with Slovenia went far towards 
helping this newly-emerging democracy develop the foundation for an 
enduring form of democratic government and to attain NATO membership. 
He excelled as a member of Governor Owens' state advocate council 
responsible for military and veterans issues. He contributed to 
significant increases in the wartime readiness of the Colorado National 
Guard and its ability to execute a myriad of missions in support of 
Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Lt. Col. 
Schoenrock's efforts contributed immeasurably to the Colorado National 
Guard's soldier welfare, readiness and public image.
  As a career Army officer, husband and father, and dedicated citizen, 
Mark Schoenrock exemplifies what is good and right about America. His 
life is a credit to his family, to his home state of Nebraska, to the 
U.S. Army, and to his generation. His 28 years of service as a U.S. 
Army officer in increasingly demanding positions of trust and 
responsibility rising from company level to the Department of the Army 
staff and service with the U.S. Congress, culminating in 8 years as the 
Colorado Inspector General, significantly contributed to the security 
and freedom of the United States of America. His career achievements 
influenced the lives of thousands and left a legacy of freedom that 
will be built upon for generations to come. His career was a credit to 
his generation of Americans who have served the United States of 
America.

                          ____________________