[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E747-E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING COLONEL MARGUERITE C. GARRISON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Colonel Marguerite 
C. (McDonald) Garrison who will be retiring from the U.S. Army after 
more than thirty years of service.
  Col. Garrison was born and raised in South Buffalo, NY. Upon 
graduating from St. Bonaventure University in 1981 with a Bachelor of 
Science in Psychology/Biology, she was commissioned as a Second 
Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps through the ROTC.
  After completing the Military Police Officer Basic Course, Col. 
Garrison spent nearly six years stationed in Germany, where she served 
as the Commander of Headquarter and Headquarters Detachment in 
Kornwestheim, Platoon Leader of the 194th Military Police Company in 
Neu Ulm, Assistant S3/Training Officer in the 385th Military Police 
Battalion, and finally as Commander of the 630th Military Police 
Company in Bamberg.
  In 1987 Col. Garrison returned to the United States for the Military 
Police Officer Advanced Course and was assigned to Fort McPherson, GA. 
From 1987 to 1991 she served as the Force Structure Officer in the 
Forces Command Provost Marshal Office, Assistant Secretary to the 
Joint, Forces Command, and the Executive Officer in the Forces Command 
Provost Marshal Office.
  In 1992 she attended the 170th session of the FBI National Academy, 
one of only twelve army personnel selected annually, and after 
graduating from the eleven week program became the Deputy Program 
Director of the World University Games held in Buffalo, New York. In 
this position, Col. Garrison coordinated joint security planning 
between the military, state, and local police.
  Col. Garrison went on to attend the U.S. Army Command and General 
Staff College, and was assigned as Executive Officer of the 705th 
Military Police Battalion. She earned a Master of Science in 
Administration from Central Michigan University in 1995, and in 
recognition of her expertise in public safety was selected as a 
Security Liaison for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA.
  Col. Garrison next assigned as the Inspector General of the United 
States Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, VA. From 2000 to 
2002 she commanded the 5th Military Police Battalion, Criminal 
Investigation Command, in Kaiserslautem, Germany, and went on to serve 
as the Inspector General for the Army Criminal Investigation Command. 
Following her graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed 
Forces, Col. Garrison was assigned to the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense as the Deputy Director for Antiterrorism Policy.
  In her next position, Col. Garrison served as Garrison Commander at 
Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem, GA. Following her time in GA, she was 
deployed to Iraq and served in the Multi-National Force-Iraq CJ3 as the 
Director for Protections, Chief of Staff and Deputy Director, of 
Current Operations. Upon her redeployment in 2009, Col. Garrison was 
assigned to her current position as the Army's Chief, Initiatives 
Group, Vice Chief of Staff.
  During her career, Col. Garrison graduated the United States Army 
Command and General Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed 
Forces, and, at the time of her induction, was the youngest member of 
the St. Bonaventure University ROTC Hall of Fame. She is married to LTC 
(Ret.) Kevin Garrison, and is the proud mother of her twin sons, Sean 
and Kieran, and her daughter, Kelsea.
  Her awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior 
Service Medal, Legion of Merit (Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal, 
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 5 
Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation 
Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, 
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Iraqi Campaign Medal 
(with two stars), the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Armed Forces 
Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon 
(Numeral 3), and the NATO Medal (Kosovo). Col. Garrison was also 
authorized to wear the Secretary of Defense and Army Staff 
Identification Badges and the Order of the Marechausse in Silver.
  Mr. Speaker, Col. Marguerite Garrison is a proud soldier, patriot, 
and Western New Yorker. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring

[[Page E748]]

Col. Garrison and thanking her for her years of dedicated service in 
the defense of our country.

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