[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 46 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR JOHN L. MURRAY, U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MO BROOKS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 24, 2014

  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize and applaud the 
achievements of Command Sergeant Major John L. Murray of the U.S. Army 
Contracting Command (ACC). Headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 
ACC includes more than 6,100 military and civilian employees across the 
globe that provide support to our war fighters by acquiring equipment, 
supplies, and services vital to our Soldiers' mission and daily needs. 
Command Sergeant Major Murray will soon retire after more than 35 years 
of distinguished service to America's Army. He has served with 
distinction at virtually every level in the Army--from team chief to 
command sergeant major, the Army's highest enlisted grade. Throughout 
his career, he has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, 
initiative and selfless service in the execution of programs supporting 
the total force of quality Soldiers and Department of the Army 
civilians.
   A native of Mobile, Alabama, Command Sergeant Major Murray began his 
Army career in 1979 as a radio operator, completing initial entry and 
advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Before joining 
Army Contracting Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in December 
2011, Command Sergeant Major Murray was the Command Sergeant Major for 
the Expeditionary Contracting Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He 
previously served as Commandant of the Regimental Noncommissioned 
Officer Academy at Fort Gordon, Georgia. A former drill sergeant, 
Command Sergeant Major Murray has served with distinction in a number 
of critical assignments while deployed to over 20 countries including 
Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He spent 
more than five years in Southwest Asia in support of Operations 
Southern Watch, Desert Storm, Desert Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring 
Freedom with the Joint Communication Support Element MacDill Air Force 
Base, Florida, the 10th Mountain Division, the 11th Signal Brigade and 
the 160th Signal Brigade.
   While his career accomplishments are many and significant, I wish to 
highlight Command Sergeant Major Murray's contributions to the 
establishment of the Army Contracting Command on March 13, 2008. He was 
one of several key Army leaders who worked tirelessly to create a new 
major subordinate command from the ground up in record time. His 
wisdom, insight and vision were essential elements in building the 
foundation of a global enterprise that awarded and managed more than 
190,000 contractual actions valued at more than $60.9 billion in fiscal 
year 2013.
   Command Sergeant Major Murray also played an important role in the 
relocation of ACC Headquarters from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Redstone 
Arsenal in 2011. This move followed the transfer of ACC's parent 
command, Army Materiel Command (AMC) Headquarters, to Redstone Arsenal 
from Fort Belvoir, as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure 
Commission's decision in 2005. While AMC had several years to plan for 
and transition to its new Alabama home, ACC completed its relocation in 
less than 18 months. This tremendous accomplishment was a direct result 
of Command Sergeant Major Murray's inspired leadership, foresight and 
team-building skills.
   I also wish to acknowledge and thank Command Sergeant Major Murray's 
wife, Ingrid, for supporting her husband and Army families. She served 
as the Family Readiness Group leader for the 11th Signal Brigade and 
Signal Corps Regimental Non Commissioned Officer Academy. She has also 
served as a senior spouse advisor and mentor for other Family Readiness 
Groups and the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas. Even the youngest member of the Murray family, 
John, Jr., was recognized by the Army Surgeon General for encouraging 
Army family members to ``Ask for Help'' when contemplating suicide.
   The distinctive accomplishments of Command Sergeant Major Murray 
represent a long and distinguished career in the service of his country 
and reflect great credit upon himself, Army Contracting Command and the 
United States Army. We wish Command Sergeant Major Murray, Ingrid and 
John Jr., all the best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________