[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1498-E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO COLONEL CORLISS GADSDEN'S 29 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 12, 2012

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel 
Corliss Gadsden, for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service 
to the United States of America. Colonel Corliss Gadsden will retire as 
the Army Reserve Medical Command's Operations Officer (G-3) on October 
1, 2012. Her service spans over twenty-nine years of military duty to 
the United States Army Reserve.
  Colonel Corliss Gadsden has served her country with integrity, 
dedication, and visionary leadership for over 29 years. She has 
constantly and consistently achieved and surpassed every mission 
assigned to her. During the early days of the Global War on Terrorism, 
while assigned as the United States Army Reserve Europe Medical Plans 
Officer, she was responsible for activating three medical units to 
support the European Regional Medical Command resulting in the right 
mix of medical professionals deploying to hostile environments to 
ensure the highest quality medical care for deployed United States 
service members.
  Ever conscious of maintaining the operational posture of Army Reserve 
Soldiers' she focused and honed in on the medical and Soldier skills. 
In 2002, she was responsible for increasing the United States Army 
Reserve Force Projection footprint to support the ever-growing Overseas 
Deployment Training missions from 400 Soldiers to over 1,000 Soldiers. 
During 2003 and 2004 she led the efforts to deploy over 800 individual 
healthcare providers in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION 
ENDURING FREEDOM, and OPERATION JOINT GUARDIAN while sourcing medical 
units for all active operations in United States Central Command, 
European Command, and the continental United States based support 
missions.
  In 2006, while serving in the United States Army Reserve Command's 
Surgeon Office as the Chief, Medical Plans and Operations her planning 
was critical in maintaining the continuity of operations while 
transitioning from the ten Regional Readiness Commands to four Regional 
Support Commands and simultaneously maintaining the United States Army 
Reserve Command's medical operations in light of the ongoing base 
realignment and closure mission. She planned, coordinated, and 
conducted quarterly synchronization meetings ensuring the prioritized, 
timely, and maximized use of the Individual Ready Reserve and 
Individual Mobilization Augmentation Soldiers in support of global 
Overseas Contingency Operations.
  In 2007 she was recognized by the Commanding General of the Army 
Reserve and Secretary of the Army for her herculean efforts in the 
mobilization and deployment of thousands of Army Reserve Soldiers. 
Colonel

[[Page E1499]]

Gadsden, partnered with the Department of the Army G-3 and the United 
States Army Medical Command in developing the blueprint for the Warrior 
Transition Units and led the initial staffing efforts which proved to 
be instrumental in the care and transition of our wounded warriors 
returning home from the Global War on Terror.
  Colonel Gadsden's selfless service and commitment to her Soldiers has 
distinguished her among her peers. She was instrumental in transforming 
the Army Reserve Medical Commands from a strategic force to an 
operational force. As the interim Chief of Staff for Western Regional 
Medical Command she expanded the command from a six-state region to a 
20-state region in less than one year while ensuring the continuity of 
care for over 358,000 beneficiaries. As the Army Reserve Medical 
Command's G-3 she led the staff through a deliberate and comprehensive 
mission analysis which resulted in trained and ready medical units to 
support the Combatant Commands and enhance continental U.S. based 
mobilization platforms with a stable medical support plan. Colonel 
Gadsden's contributions to the Army have been immense.
  On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in 
recognizing and commending Colonel Corliss Gadsden for a lifetime of 
service to her country. For all she and her family have given and 
continue to give to our country, we are in their debt. We wish her all 
the best in her well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________