[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 59 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   IN HONOR OF COLONEL DANIEL D. PICK

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2014

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly great American 
on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Army. On April 
18, 2014, Colonel Daniel D. Pick will relinquish his command of 
Commandant of the Defense Language Institute for the Presidio of 
Monterey and retire from the Army after 29 years of exemplary service. 
It is my great pleasure to have had the opportunity to get to know this 
soldier scholar. He truly represents for me the highest qualities of 
military leadership: courage, vision, integrity, and keen understanding 
of the broader world that we live in. Peace is best served when we can 
bridge cultures. In light of his commitment to military language 
capacity, his own language and cultural skills, and his experience as a 
diplomat and soldier overseas, Colonel Pick, is the personification of 
this truth.
  In 1987, Colonel Pick graduated from the University of Washington and 
began his Army career as an active duty military intelligence officer. 
His early career took him many places, including serving as a scout 
platoon leader and battalion S2 in 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment 
in Garlstedt, Germany. In addition, he had a deployment to Operations 
Desert Shield/Storm in January 1991 as S2 3/66 Armor Battalion. 
Following his graduation from the Military Intelligence Officer Advance 
Course, Colonel Pick served with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) as 
Commander, Military Intelligence Detachment and Group S2.
  Colonel Pick became a Middle East Foreign Area Officer (FAO) in 1996. 
His FAO assignments include: Kuwaiti Land Forces Advisor, OMC-Kuwait; 
FAO Assignment Officer, Army Human Resources Command, WAD.C.; Executive 
Officer, Human Intelligence Team, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces 
Group (Airborne), Northern Iraq; Army attachee, U.S. Embassy, Amman, 
Jordan; Policy Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and FAO 
Program Director, Defense Language Institute.
  Colonel Pick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Near Eastern 
Languages and Civilization from the University of Washington, a Master 
of Military Studies from Marine Corps University, Quantico, and a 
Master of Arts degree in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton 
University. He speaks Arabic, Persian-Farsi, Persian-Dari, and 
Assyrian. He is a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 
Defense Language Institute Basic Arabic Course, Jumpmaster Course, 
Military intelligence Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Ranger School 
and Airborne School. In addition, his decorations include the Combat 
Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal with an oak leaf cluster, and Iraq 
Campaign Medal with arrowhead device.
  Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in extending our most 
sincere gratitude for Colonel Pick's service to our Nation. The United 
States is a more secure and fruitful place as a consequence of his 
efforts. I want to wish Colonel Pick, his wife Karen, and children 
Dalton and Lauren, all the best as he transitions from active duty to 
what will surely be an active and fruitful second career of continued 
public service. And while the Army is losing one of its most capable 
officers, the Monterey Bay region is retaining one of its most capable 
citizens.

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