[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E59-E60]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING MAJOR GERARD ACOSTA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BEN RAY LUJAN

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 18, 2011

  Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize and pay tribute to MAJ 
Gerard ``Gerry'' Acosta, United States Army, on the occasion of his 
departure from the Army House Liaison Office to pursue Command and 
General Staff College studies at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. I, and many 
other members of this chamber, have had the pleasure of working with 
him over the past 3 years that he has served as a part of the U.S. Army 
Office of Legislative Affairs and as a Liaison Officer in the Army 
Liaison Office in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Major Acosta has had a remarkably varied and successful career. He 
was born in the Panama Canal Zone, Panama. As a military brat, Major 
Acosta grew up in Central and South America, eventually residing in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In 1997, after completing the United 
States Military Academy Preparatory School and Fort Monmouth, New 
Jersey, and 2 years at the United States Military Academy, Gerry had to 
transfer to the University of Florida to support a family emergency. In 
1999, Gerry graduated, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a 
minor in Chemical Engineering Design. After completion of the Reserve 
Officer Training Corps, Major Acosta was commissioned a second 
lieutenant in the Quartermaster Branch and branch-detailed to the 
Infantry.
  Major Acosta's initial assignment was to Fort Lewis, Washington, 
where he served as a Motor Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, 
and later Assistant Brigade Logistics Officer (S-4) in the 3d Brigade, 
Second Infantry Division. Major Acosta then attended the Combined 
Logistics Career Course and Petroleum Officer Course in Fort Lee, 
Virginia. Upon completion of his courses, Major Acosta served 13 months 
as an Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of Army Material Command, 
Southeast Asia in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Bagram, Afghanistan.
  Upon his return to the United States, Major Acosta served 31 months 
as a Quartermaster Direct Support Company Commander in the

[[Page E60]]

593d Sustainment Brigade, Fort Lewis, Washington. He deployed again in 
late 2006 for 14 months with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces at 
Camp Al-Asad, Iraq. After his return from Iraq, Major Acosta was 
selected as a Congressional Fellow and served a year in the personal 
office of U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.
  Following his fellowship in the Senate, Major Acosta was assigned to 
the Army House Liaison Office. I have come to know Major Acosta well 
during his assignment to the House of Representatives through his work 
with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and with Wounded Warriors. He 
has never failed to impress me with his energy and dedication to 
soldiers, their families, and the U.S. Army. He is a superb 
representative of Army values.
  It is my great honor to congratulate MAJ Gerard ``Gerry'' Acosta on 
his service to the Army and our Nation and I ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of this soldier, 
citizen, and friend.

                          ____________________