[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 PAYING TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL KELLY M. LAUREL FOR EXCEPTIONAL 
          SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMAN D. DICKS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel 
Kelly M. Laurel for her exceptional dedication to duty and service to 
the United States Army and to the United States of America. Lieutenant 
Colonel Kelly Laurel will be transitioning from her present assignment 
as the Senior Army Budget Congressional Liaison for the Army (SAFM-BUL) 
to work on the Secretary of the Army's Strategic Initiatives Group.
  A native of Laredo, Texas, Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Laurel enlisted 
in the Wyoming Air National Guard in 1989 and completed Air Force Basic 
Military Training and Medical Records Technician Training at Lackland 
Air Force Base, Texas. She later joined the Army Reserve Officer 
Training Corps program at Weber State University, where she completed a 
bachelor's degree in Microbiology and Chemistry in May 1993. Upon her 
graduation she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Medical 
Service Corps in the Army Reserve. The following year she opted to 
enter the active duty Army.
  Lieutenant Colonel Laurel's assignments have been diverse, including 
Medical Platoon Leader, 61st Area Support Medical Company; Adjutant, 
1st Medical Group; Budget Officer, 13th Corps Support Command; and 
Company Executive Officer, 502d Medical Company (Dental Service), all 
at Fort Hood, Texas. In Korea, she served as a Company Commander, for 
Headquarters, 52d Medical Evacuation Battalion; and later Chief of the 
Management Division, 18th Medical Command. In Germany, she served as 
the Chief Financial Officer for the Heidelberg Medical Activity. She 
was then assigned to Office of the Surgeon General where she served as 
the Senior Budget Analyst, Chief of the Financial Health Policy 
Division and as a Congressional Affairs Coordinating Officer. In 
addition to her regular duties, she also served as the Deputy 
Consultant for Comptrollers for over three years, where she assisted in 
recruitment, career development and assignments for all MSC 
Comptrollers.
  Lieutenant Colonel Laurel has worked diligently throughout her career 
to help the Army and take care of our nation's men and women in 
uniform. As a Senior Legislative Liaison she worked directly with the 
Senate and House Appropriations Committees to educate and inform 
Senators, Representatives, and staff about medical issues, soldier 
issues and various programs.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with Lieutenant Colonel 
Kelly Laurel during her time as a legislative liaison. On behalf of a 
grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and 
commending Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Laurel for a lifetime of service to 
her country. We wish Kelly, her husband Raymond, and her children Alex, 
Isabella, Zachary and Daniel all the best as they continue their 
journey in the United States Army.

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