[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL KRISTINE V. NAKUTIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2009

  Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel 
Kristine V. Nakutis, who is retiring this month after more than 20 
years of service to the United States Army. A portion of that time was 
spent as Commander of the Milan Army Ammunition Plant, which I am 
honored to represent in this chamber.
  Lieutenant Colonel Kristine V. Nakutis assumed command of Milan Army 
Ammunition Plant on July 12, 2004. A native of Meriden, Connecticut, 
Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis received her commission as an Army Ordnance 
officer in May 1989 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 
program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Upon graduating 
with honors, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political 
Science and departed for the Ordnance Officer Basic Course in Redstone 
Arsenal, Alabama.
  Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis' first assignment was at 24th Ordnance 
Company, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where she served as a Magazine 
Platoon Leader for two years. This assignment allowed her the 
opportunity to support National Training Center rotations for 24th 
Infantry Division, Operation Just Cause in support of 1/75th Ranger 
Regiment, and the deployment of 24th Infantry Division to Saudi Arabia.
  In support of Operation Desert Shield, Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis 
deployed her platoon to Saudi Arabia and established the largest Corps 
Storage Area (CSA) of ammunition in direct support of 18th Airborne 
Corps. During her deployment, she assumed command of 24th Ordnance 
Company for a period of 35 days, while they prepared to transition to 
Operation Desert Storm and the forward movement of troops and supplies.
  Upon returning from Desert Storm, she assumed the position of 
Assistant Protocol Officer for 24th Infantry Division. She received 
reassignment to the Republic of Korea, where she worked as the 6th 
Ordnance Battalion's S2/3 Officer and Company Commander of 538th 
Ordnance Company. Her other assignments include Combined Logistics 
Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia; Corps Ammunition 
Manager, 4th CMMC, Fort Hood, Texas; and Corps Ammunition Planner, 13th 
COSCOM, Fort Hood, Texas.
  Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis attended the University of Massachusetts, 
Amherst, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy with a 
follow-on three year assignment as an Assistant Professor at the United 
States Military Academy in the Department of English. Upon departing 
USMA, she became the Support Operations Officer for 6th Ordnance 
Battalion, Republic of Korea, in July 2002. In this position, she was 
responsible for the U.S. ammunition stocks valued at more than $6 
billion.
  She served a 90-day tour in Baghdad, Iraq, as a mentor to Iraqi 
Ammunition Officers to help them establish strategic ammunition 
management systems.
  Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis' awards and decorations include the 
Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf clusters); Joint Service 
Commendation Medal; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Commendation Medal 
(with two Oak Leaf clusters); Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf 
clusters); Kuwaiti Liberation Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; 
Presidential Unit Citation (with one Oak Leaf cluster); Iraqi Freedom 
Medal.
  Madam Speaker, I have had the pleasure of working closely with 
Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis in her position as Commander of the Milan 
Army Ammunition Plant, a facility that is important to our nation's 
defense. I hope you and our colleagues will join us to congratulate 
Lieutenant Colonel Nakutis on her retirement, thank her for her service 
and wish her all the best.

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