[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 102 (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ROBERT D. PETERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2012

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of Colonel Robert D. Peterson; who has served West 
Virginia through his leadership for the past 3 years at the United 
State Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District. Col. Peterson is 
responsible for the 300 navigable miles of the Ohio River basin. Col. 
Peterson employees over 800 staff members to maintain 35 reservoirs, 
and nine locks and dams. I want to personally congratulate Col. 
Peterson for his continued success.
  The awards of Col. Peterson are just a fraction of what he has truly 
accomplished. Col. Peterson has successfully managed 35 flood projects 
that prevented over 11.3 billion dollars in damages while allowing over 
30 million visitors to support these regions through tourism. He was 
responsible for the processing of 94 tons of commercial traffic valued 
at $18.6 billion dollars through nine locks and dams. He oversaw the 
ongoing construction of the Bluestone Dam including communication of 
risk in the event of dam failure and held a Combined Emergency Exercise 
to educate affected federal, state and local governments to potential 
dangers. As a result, the Huntington District was selected by the Great 
Lakes and Ohio River division as the Regional Dam Safety Production 
Center and soon after, selected by the Corps of Engineers Headquarters 
as the Corps' national Mandatory Center of Expertise for Dam Safety.
  I had the honor to work with Col. Peterson as he executed nine 
Project Partnership Agreements for environmental infrastructure 
projects providing water and sewer service to unserved and underserved 
residents of the Second Congressional District, resulting in improved 
public health and safety. He has proven to be an effective communicator 
in a variety of public venues on the federal, state and local level, 
including such forums as the Ohio River Basin Alliance of which I have 
been involved. And lastly, he issued 800 permits for mining, highway 
construction, and flood emergency, including the permit to place West 
Virginia's newest resident, the Boy Scout Jamboree on a post-mining 
land site within our beautiful state of West Virginia.
  Col. Robert D. Peterson is an outstanding soldier, friend, husband 
and father. He is a 1985 graduate from the prestigious academy of West 
Point, graduating with a Bachelors of Science and from the U.S. Army 
War College with a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. Col. Peterson 
was awarded the Bronze Star, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army 
Achievement Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Master 
Parachutist Badge, and the Bronze Order of the deFleury Medal.
  Col. Peterson's work has greatly enhanced the state of West Virginia 
and the world around him. Congratulations to Col. Peterson on his 
numerous accomplishments.

                          ____________________