[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 152 (Friday, November 30, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COLONEL PETER J. BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2012

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, November 20, 
2012, Colonel Peter J. Brooks wore the United States Army uniform for 
the very last time. After over 32 years of dedicated service to our 
nation, Pete has retired from our Armed Forces and will serve his last 
day with the South Carolina National Guard on December 31, 2012.
  Colonel Brooks began his military service in September 1979, when he 
entered the Army ROTC/SMP at Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, 
Pennsylvania. Following graduation, he was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the Armor branch in June 1981. Pete studied at the 
University of South Carolina for several years before attending officer 
basic course. In 1986, Colonel Brooks graduated from the University of 
New York where he studied political science and received a Bachelor's 
Degree in Liberal Arts.
  Since 1995, Colonel Brooks has worked in the public affairs 
department of the South Carolina National Guard and the Military 
Department of South Carolina. Due to his superb knowledge, he has more 
recently served as a senior advisor to the director of public affairs 
and strategic communications. Pete always worked extremely hard on 
behalf of the SCNG and has developed great working relationships with 
Congressional leaders and staffers, resulting in tremendous legislative 
support for the Soldiers and Airmen serving in the South Carolina 
National Guard. He also has served as a former president to the 
National Guard Association of South Carolina. Additionally, under 
Colonel Brooks' mentorship, the SCNG public affairs professionals 
earned awards from many different organizations including the National 
Guard Bureau, Air Force, Army, and Department of Defense. In 2009, due 
to Colonel Brooks' expertise, NORTHCOM/ARNOTH requested him by-name to 
support their communications programs.
  Colonel Brooks also has worked with the University of South Carolina 
to develop a Media & the Military course in the university's School of 
Journalism and Mass Communications. This graduate-level course has 
helped approximately 100 recent graduates enter the public relations 
and journalism career fields with a level of understanding of military 
operations that very few students ever achieve. Additionally, Colonel 
Brooks and his team of public affairs professionals, all of who have 
been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in recent years, served as guest 
lecturers and mentors for the students.
  As a 31 year veteran of the South Carolina Army National Guard and 
with three sons currently serving in the Army National Guard, I am 
truly grateful of Colonel Pete Brooks and his selfless service to the 
United States Army. I wish him and his wife Laurie the best in the 
future and look forward to working with him throughout the Midlands 
community.

                          ____________________