[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 98 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5618-S5619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL KEVIN J. WILSON

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and pay 
tribute to COL Kevin J. Wilson for his exceptional contributions to the 
Nation as he concludes 30 years of service in the U.S. Army, 
culminating as commander of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and 
Development Center. Throughout his Army career, Colonel Wilson has 
displayed superior leadership, outstanding professional competence and 
initiative, dedication, and commitment to the welfare of soldiers, 
civilians, and their families. He has made significant and lasting 
contributions to the development, training, and leadership of the Army.
  Colonel Wilson has performed with distinction in all of his 
assignments including as the group operations officer for the 555th 
Combat Engineer Group, the military assistant to the Assistant 
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works while stationed at the Pentagon, 
the battalion commander of the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) 
at Fort Belvoir, VA, the U.S. Northern Command/J-4 Army engineer 
officer at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, the Commander of the Alaska 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and, most recently, as the 
commander of the Engineer Research and Development Center.
  As commander of the Engineer Research and Development Center, the 
Department of Defense's largest multi-disciplined engineering and 
research center, Colonel Wilson has taken the organization to the 
highest performance levels with a focus on human capital and 
positioning the center for dramatic increases in performance and 
effectiveness. His support of research and development is second to 
none, and he provides innovative pathways for technology transfer that 
speeds the integration of new ideas. Colonel Wilson has also supported 
the warfighter by equipping both deploying tactical units and the U.S. 
Army Engineer School with new combat systems and training on the 
Engineer Research and Development Center's capabilities.
  Colonel Wilson was an extremely effective brigade-level commander in 
Afghanistan, responsible for all corps operations for Regional Command-
South and Regional Command-West. His efforts focused on military 
construction in support of the buildup of U.S. forces, facilities for 
the Afghanistan National Security Forces, and water resources and 
infrastructure projects. While deployed, he coordinated with regional 
and battlespace commanders, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and 
coalition partners, Provincial Reconstruction Teams, U.S. Forces-
Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, and U.S. and Afghan government agencies and 
organizations at all levels. During this deployment, he focused on big 
picture projects such as electricity for Kandahar and critical road 
infrastructure for Regional Command-S, proving he could successfully 
integrate the operations of U.S. and coalition partners.
  Colonel Wilson was commander of the Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, where he led 500 personnel, executing military 
construction, civil works, and environmental programs throughout the 
State. Due to his drive and foresight, Colonel Wilson's command was 
able to execute end-of-year funding to protect Alaska Native villages 
from coastal erosion. This tremendous feat was recognized by the Alaska 
Congressional delegation and the Alaska Native community. As commander 
of the largest geographic and perhaps most complex U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers district, Colonel Wilson deftly weaved disparate units into a 
cohesive team driven to deliver excellent products to its customers, 
winning four Pacific Air Force Engineer awards and being named the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers Project Delivery Team of the Year. Under his 
leadership, the Alaska District consistently improved its delivery of 
military construction, civil works, and environmental projects, 
ensuring they were on time and under budget, routinely winning 
accolades from customers.
  As the U.S. Northern Command/J-4 engineer officer stationed at 
Peterson Air Force Base, Colonel Wilson was the subject matter expert 
on Army military construction capabilities, prime power, electrical 
power systems, and emergency support functions. He served as a trusted 
member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response 
team during several hurricanes, later leading a hurricane conference, 
from which a pre-scripted request for assistance was developed, to help 
local officials better understand the assets available during a 
disaster. As a part of the Joint Planning

[[Page S5619]]

Group, he was an integral part of long range homeland defense planning. 
He was also a member of the Current Operations Group and played a key 
role as the J-4 representative during crisis operations and exercises.
  Colonel Wilson had the distinct honor of leading the 249th Engineer 
Battalion, the only Prime Power Engineer Battalion in the Army. He was 
responsible for contingency deployment of power production personnel, 
as well as power generation and distribution of equipment in support of 
Combat Commanders, Joint Task Forces, and Installation Commanders 
worldwide. His soldiers kept up an unbelievable operations tempo during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait, 
Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Guam, and Turkey. Support operations included 
major deployments in disaster relief. Colonel Wilson was also 
responsible for the Prime Power School, for its training program and 
for recruitment and retention. As a battalion commander, he was a 
proven professional who always accomplished the mission, took care of 
his soldiers, and planned, thought, and communicated as a leader.
  I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Colonel Wilson for his 
many years of service to our Nation. I wish the absolute best to him 
and his family as they begin this next stage in their lives.

                          ____________________