[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 98 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF MR. BENNIE F. WOOD II

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 24, 2006

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Mr. Bennie F. Wood II, the recipient of the Meritorious Civilian 
Service Award for 37 years of Federal service.
  This July, Mr. Wood completes a distinguished 37-year career in 
Federal service that began with student service in 1969. After a brief 
stint with a private engineering firm following his graduation from the 
University of Virginia, he entered Federal service as a Civil Engineer 
with the Public Works Department of the U.S. Naval Academy in 
Annapolis, Maryland.
  Mr. Wood continued with NAVFAC until 1976, leaving his position as 
MILCON Project Manager for the Chesapeake Region to undertake more than 
two decades of service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' substantial 
nation building efforts in the Middle East. He held progressively more 
responsible positions, and served overseas in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 
and Kuwait during the first Gulf War.
  He returned to the U.S. to become Chief of Engineering and 
Construction Management Directorate and later, the Assistant Deputy for 
Programs and Project Management at Transatlantic Program Center. During 
this period, Mr. Wood received two Commanders Awards for Civilian 
Service and, in 1991, a Superior Civilian Service Award.
  With all these years of military construction and overseas project 
management behind him, Mr. Wood made a bold move in 1999 to enter the 
Corps' Civil Works arena for the first time as the Wilmington 
District's Chief of Technical Services Division. Determined to bring 
his overseas experience back home in the service of the nation's water 
resources, Mr. Wood vigorously led a highly successful effort to push 
ahead with the long-awaited Wilmington Harbor Channel Deepening 
Project. This multi-contract, multi-phase project called on his 
leadership skills and elicited outstanding efforts from his team of 
engineers, construction managers and environmentalists. Mr. Wood was a 
vital part of the leadership team that kept this and other District 
projects on track, despite the challenges and disruptions brought about 
by the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 and the following military 
actions in the Gulf Region.
  In 2002, he was called upon to act as the District's Deputy for 
Project and Programs Management, while the serving Deputy and other 
team members deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in advance of the U.S. 
military effort there. His leadership during this crucial time kept the 
District's projects and programs moving ahead despite the absence of 
key staff members and the challenges of curtailed funding.
  In 2003, Mr. Wood spearheaded an outstanding effort to accomplish 
rapid repair of a nearly mile-wide breach in Hatteras Island caused by 
Hurricane Isabel. During this period he was recognized with two 
Commanders Awards for Civilian Service.
  In 2004, Mr. Wood stepped up permanently as the Deputy for Project 
and Programs Management, and has since been a key leader in a period of 
significant change for the Wilmington District. As the South Atlantic 
Division approached regionalization, he has been at the forefront of 
the change effort, and has played an important role in empowering the 
district to take on its new roles as the Engineering and Planning 
Center for the Savannah-Charleston-Jacksonville triad. He has also 
provided firm and supportive leadership as the District undertook the 
challenges of implementing the P2 system, and has kept many key 
projects on track through a period of wartime budget constraints. Mr. 
Wood's diplomacy and broad knowledge of the Corps have proved an asset 
as the District works with many local and national elected officials, 
and stakeholders. His leadership has been critical to the District's 
continued standing as a ``first among equals.''
  His distinguished career brings great credit upon himself, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Army.
  As a member of Congress who has had the pleasure of working with Mr. 
Wood, I can honestly say that the American taxpayer has been well-
served by his dedication and commitment to excellence.
  It is an honor to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Wood upon 
the completion of his distinguished 37-year career, and to extend my 
sincere thanks for his service to our nation and to the state of North 
Carolina.

                          ____________________