[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 145 (Thursday, September 27, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12282-S12283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF HIRO PAUL MIZUE

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, on September 29, 2007, Mr. Hiro 
Paul Mizue, Chief of the Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu 
Engineer District, HED, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will retire from 
U.S. Government service following 34 years of exemplary service to 
Hawaii, the Pacific Region, the U.S. military, and our Nation.
  Over the course of these 34 years, Mr. Mizue has served with 
integrity and distinction. I have personally witnessed his conviction 
to duty and steadfast dedication to improving the lives of citizens and 
servicemembers.
  Mr. Mizue has demonstrated the highest values and ideals over his 
years of distinguished service, excelling at every assignment in his 
career, which covers every facet of civil and military planning and 
design management. He has exercised exceptional leadership and 
management skills on behalf of the Army Corps of Engineers to achieve 
much lauded success.
  His professional career in water resources began with the Los Angeles 
County Flood Control District in 1968 as a hydraulic engineer. Called 
to duty by the U.S. Army in 1969, he was assigned to HED as a civil 
engineer where he worked in the Civil Works Branch at Fort Armstrong. 
Upon discharge in 1971, he returned to the Los Angeles Flood Control 
District. In 1974, he relocated to Hawaii, joining the Honolulu firm of 
Belt Collins and Associates as a civil engineer. He rejoined the 
Honolulu District in late 1975 as a hydraulic engineer, managing water 
resources feasibility studies.
  In 1983, Mr. Mizue transferred to HED's military engineering division 
where he served as the Chief of the Family Housing/Hospital Division 
until 1995. During this period, he provided exceptional project 
management support culminating with $271 million in construction of new 
family housing for our brave servicemembers on Hickam AFB, Wheeler AAF, 
Schofield Barracks, Aliamanu Military Reservation, and Fort Shafter. 
Also of note are Mr. Mizue's efforts in managing $100 million in 
design-build contracts for a much needed expansion of the Tripler Army 
Medical.
  Having demonstrated exemplary leadership and management skills, Mr. 
Mizue was promoted to Chief of Planning Division in 1995; this office 
later became Civil and Public Works Branch. In this capacity, Mr. Mizue 
provided high-quality planning services to the State of Hawaii, Guam, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa. In addition, 
he implemented comprehensive/holistic planning by having Corps planning 
studies evaluate water resources problems broadly and at a watershed 
level. This approach formed the basis for Federal, State, and local 
agencies to implement integrated water resources development projects. 
Mr. Mizue typified customer care by constantly striving to provide the 
highest quality planning services and products in a responsive manner.
  In 2006, Mr. Mizue led HED's response to assist the State and 
counties with dam safety inspections after the Kaloko Dam failure and 
later following a 6.7-magnitude earthquake. HED's responses to these 
disasters demonstrated the exceptional working relationship with the 
State of Hawaii. Through his leadership, expertise, and experience, HED 
became recognized as the proven leader in project execution, 
accomplishment, and responsiveness.
  During his 12 years as Chief of Civil and Public Works Branch for the 
Honolulu District, Mr. Mizue parlayed his extensive leadership skills 
to accomplish notable Branch achievements. A major civil works project 
built during his tenure was the Alenaio Stream Flood Control project, 
on the Big Island, completed in 1997 at a cost of $16

[[Page S12283]]

million. During the storm of November 2000, the improvement prevented 
approximately $13 million worth of damages and remains fully functional 
today.
  More recently, Mr. Mizue successfully led the district through its 
biggest civil works construction program in many years with highly 
visible and vital projects, such as the $28 million Kaumalapau Harbor 
Project on the Island of Lanai, the $124 million Palau Compact Road 
Project in the Republic of Palau, and the $19 million Kikiaola Small 
Boat Harbor Project on the Island of Kauai. Under his tutelage, the 
Honolulu District has achieved the highest customer satisfaction rating 
for its civil works program in its history. While these accomplishments 
attest to his commitment to client satisfaction, his nurturing, and 
pragmatic management style earned him a reputation as a solid team 
player and a supportive, fair supervisor and mentor to his staff. Mr. 
Mizue exemplifies not only an effective manager but, more importantly, 
a dedicated and caring leader.
  Mr. Mizue is a recognized representative of the Corps in the Pacific 
Region. Under his management, the civil works and capital improvement 
programs expanded in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, providing for the essential needs of these 
communities. Mr. Mizue's exemplary administrative and leadership skills 
have always led the way. He has established lasting relationships with 
the Hawaii congressional delegation, as well as the Governors of 
Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Marianas Islands. The assets that he brings to bear on behalf of the 
Corps of Engineers are considerable.
  Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in California, Mr. Mizue is a 
registered professional engineer in California and Hawaii, a member of 
the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a graduate of the CP-18 
Executive Development Program. He holds a bachelors of science degree 
in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and a 
master of science degree in Water Resource Engineering from Utah State 
University. He received the Commander's Award for Civilian Service in 
1993 and 2002. Mr. Mizue is married to the former Ruby E. Ibaraki. They 
have three children, Evan, Reid, and Cara.
  Mr. President, Mr. Mizue's lifelong contributions to the Army are 
considerable. His recognized leadership and management skills, his 
ability to forge lasting substantive relationships, and his clear 
direction and vision point to a truly outstanding individual who has 
dedicated his life to service. The Honolulu Engineer District will 
continue to serve as ``America's Engineers in the Pacific.'' Paul 
Mizues's legacy of unwavering dedication to duty to the U.S. Army will 
carry on. Thank you, Mr. Mizue for a job well done. You have the 
gratitude of a grateful nation.

                          ____________________