[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 25 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MAJOR GENERAL MELVIN SPIESE ON THE OCCASION 
                           OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 15, 2013

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the military service 
of Major General (MajGen) Melvin Spiese on the occasion of his 
retirement from the United States Marine Corps. I commend MajGen 
Spiese's career and offer my sincerest thanks for his more than 36 
years of dedicated service in protecting our nation.
  In 1976, MajGen Spiese was commissioned via the NROTC program at the 
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and he began his long and 
successful career in the United States Marine Corps as a rifle platoon 
commander with 3d Battalion, 4th Marines.
  Nearly four decades later, MajGen Spiese retires now from his post as 
both Deputy Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) 
and Commanding General (CG) of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st 
MEB).
  As Deputy CG of I MEF, MajGen Spiese oversaw the daily activities of 
57,000 Marines and Sailors, the largest warfighting organization in the 
Marine Corps. From the moment he became Deputy CG, he provided critical 
direction to the staff and allowed the CG of I MEF to successfully 
focus on his concurrent duties as Commander, Marine Forces Central 
Command.
  Simultaneously, as the CG of 1st MEB, MajGen Spiese successfully 
transformed the organization from concept to an operational, 
warfighting organization. MajGen Spiese developed establishing orders 
and planning documents that were firsts of their kind for Marine 
Expeditionary Brigades, pushed his staff to 48-month planning cycles 
rather than the standard 12 months, and integrated 1st MEB into major 
Marine Corps, Navy, and international training events such as JAVELIN 
THRUST with Marine Forces Reserve units, DAWN BLITZ with the Navy's 
Expeditionary Strike Group Three and THIRD Fleet, and IRON FIST with 
the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force.
  Through the development of the MEB Order, MEB Training Continuum, 
Capstone Document, and yearly I MEF Campaign Plans he leaves an 
established path for future Marine leaders to follow.
  I offer MajGen Spiese my warmest congratulations and hope that he 
enjoys a rich and rewarding retirement with his wife Filomena and their 
children D'arcy, Lindsey and MG and their grandchildren Lucy and 
Christian.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues please join me in recognizing 
the career of MajGen Melvin Spiese.

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