[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING COLONEL JOHN LAZAR

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
Colonel John Lazar, upon his retirement after having served this great 
Nation since 1981, most recently as Director of Operational Contracting 
Support and Policy with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
the Army.
  In 1981 John Lazar enlisted in the United States Army. Upon his 
graduation with a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military 
Academy at West Point in 1986, he was commissioned as an Armor officer. 
Colonel Lazar went on to serve as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon 
Leader and Assistant Battalion Operations Officer in the 1st Battalion 
68th Armor Regiment at Wildflecken, Germany. He commanded Alpha Troop 
5th Squadron 12th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Knox, Kentucky, served as an 
Assistant Professor as a member of the faculty at West Point, as Chief 
of the Joint Contracting Center in Hungary and as a Brigade Operations 
Officer for the United States Army Contracting Command Europe. Colonel 
Lazar commanded the Defense Contract Management Agency of both Canada 
and Central Iraq. He also served as Military Deputy to the Director of 
Acquisition Resources and Analysis in the Office of the Under Secretary 
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
  Colonel Lazar has earned several graduate degrees including a Master 
of Science in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 1994, a Master of 
Arts in Procurement and Acquisition Management from Webster University 
in 2000, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United 
States Army War College in 2007. He has a vast military education 
consisting of Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms 
Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College as well as the 
aforementioned United States Army War College. Colonel Lazar holds 
acquisition certificates of Level II in Program Management and Level 
III in Contracting.
  Highly decorated and awarded in his career, Colonel John Lazar has 
earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Defense 
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak 
Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, 
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO Medal with 
Yugoslavia Bar.
  Mr. Speaker, since 1981 Colonel John Lazar has faithfully served the 
citizens of the United States. As he enters the next phase of his life 
with his beloved wife Renee and their three children Erika, Jacob and 
Matthew, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and 
excellence. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Colonel John Lazar upon his retirement and recognizing his years of 
loyal service to our community and country.

                          ____________________