[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 106 (Monday, July 19, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE TRANSFER OF MAJOR CA-ASIA SHIELDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 2010

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, today, I recognize and pay tribute to 
Major Ca-Asia Shields, United States Army, on the occasion of her 
transfer to the Secretary of the Army's Strategy and Initiatives Group. 
I have had the great pleasure of working with her over the past three 
years that she has served with the Congress: first as my Defense Fellow 
and then as a Liaison Officer in the Army Liaison Office in the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
  Major Shields has had a varied and distinguished Army career. She 
enlisted in the United States Army in February 1987 and served as an 
Administrative Specialist for 8 years in both active duty and reserve 
units. In May 1997, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 
Military Police Corps, a branch of the Army of which she has always 
been proud to be a member.
  Some of her major duty assignments include Platoon Leader and Company 
Executive Officer in the 58th Military Police Company, Schofield 
Barracks, Hawaii; S-3 Operations Officer, Headquarters Command 
Battalion, Fort Myer, Virginia; Adjutant, 759th Military Police 
Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado; Company Commander, 984th Military 
Police Company; and Military Police Captains' Assignment Officer, Human 
Resources Command, Alexandria, VA.
  Her combat experience included Operation Iraqi Freedom II, where she 
served as Company Commander of the 984th Military Police Company.
  In 2008, she served as a Department of Defense Congressional Fellow 
in my office, primarily handling national security and veterans issues; 
but she took the lead in calling attention to Post Traumatic Stress 
Disorder among returning troops; pushed for more contracting 
opportunities with the Department of Defense for service disabled owned 
businesses; and worked to form the Military Leadership Diversity 
Commission to promote the recruitment and development of minority 
officers in the Armed Forces. I was very impressed with Ca-Asia's 
intelligence and work ethic, qualities that were only exceeded by her 
dedication to our Country's service members and their families.
  During her assignment to the Army House Liaison Office, Major Shields 
developed outstanding rapport with both members and staff in a variety 
of venues. She planned and escorted 11 congressional and staff 
delegations to locations within the continental United States and 
overseas. Her missions ranged from a two-day trip to Fort Lewis, 
Washington, with 40 staffers to a complicated two-week CODEL to China. 
She managed the Army-escorted trips for House members and staff to 
Walter Reed, personally escorting 25 delegations to visit Wounded 
Warriors. And, in coordination with the Congressional Black Caucus, she 
developed and conducted the first two Army-sponsored Black History 
Month events on Capitol Hill. Throughout all of these engagements, she 
has served as an outstanding representative for Soldiers and for Army 
values, and enhanced the Army's reputation with the United States 
Congress.
  Major Shields is a graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University 
with a BA in History and holds a Master's Degree in History Education 
from Old Dominion University.
  I ask that my colleagues please join me in recognizing the 
outstanding accomplishments of Major Ca-Asia Shields in serving the 
United States Army and the Nation.

                          ____________________