[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1460-E1461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING COLONEL CATHLEEN HARMS' SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Colonel 
Cathleen Harms of Great Neck, New York, who on July 31, 2014 ended 38 
years of military service, including 31 years of commissioned service 
and rejoins the Retired Reserves. Colonel Harms is also a retired 
Lieutenant in the New York City Police Department.
   Colonel Harms began her military career as a dental hygienist. Her 
enlisted career with the Army National Guard spanned from March 12, 
1976 until May 18, 1983. She began her career in the New York Army 
National Guard in 1976 when she received her Associate of Applied 
Science degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale. In 
addition to serving as a dental hygienist she also served as a Platoon 
Sergeant in the 824th Medical Detachment.
   She then earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Public Health from 
Saint Joseph's College, Brooklyn, NY and Saint John's University, 
Jamaica, NY, being cross-enrolled in both schools for ROTC purposes. 
She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve on 
May 19, 1983, earning the honor of Distinguished Military Graduate.
   After commissioning, Colonel Harms completed the Army Medical 
Department Officer Basic Course. Her first assignment in the Medical 
Service Corps was as Administrative Officer, 824th Medical Detachment, 
New York Army National Guard, from May 1983 until May 1989. During this 
tour she attended the Army Medical Department Theater Medical Operation 
Course in 1985, was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant on May 18, 
1986, and promoted again to the rank of Captain on May 19, 1987. Her 
next assignment was as the Medical Regulating Officer, for the 244th 
Medical Group, New York Army National Guard from 1990 until 1993. 
During this time she served in both a National Guard Status and a Title 
10 Active Duty Status and attended the Army Medical Department Officer 
Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College Mobilization 
and Deployment Planning Course.
   Colonel Harms' next assignment was as the Personnel Officer for the 
244th Medical Group of the New York Army National Guard from September 
1993 until June 1994, during which time she completed the Patient 
Administration Course as the Honor Graduate. She then served in the 
244th as Patient Administration Officer from July 1994 until July 1997, 
and graduated from the Command and General Staff Course in 1995. In 
1997 she completed the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute's 
(DEOMI) Equal Opportunity Advisor's Course in which she made the 
Commandant's list for academic achievement.
   Her next assignment was as Detachment Commander, 53rd Troop Command 
New York Army National Guard from August 1997 until December 2000. She 
was promoted to Major, Army National Guard in October 6, 1997. During 
this period of command she also completed the National Guard Bureau 
Military Discrimination Complaint Investigator Course in 1998.
   Colonel Harms' following assignment was as Equal Opportunity 
Advisor, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, from January 
2000 until August 2004. In 2001 she completed the DEOMI Mediation 
Course and in 2004 she completed the Army National Guard Facilitator 
Course. She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 
National Guard on April 8, 2003.
   Colonel Harms returned to Active Duty in Title 10 status in August 
2004 to the Office for the Administrative Review of the Detention of 
Enemy Combatants, Guantanamo Bay and Washington, D.C. She served in 
multiple billets including: Lead Recorder, Chief of Staff, Deputy 
Branch Chief, Tiger Team, Operations Officer, Special Liaison to 
Department of State, and Guantanamo Review Task Force Member. She was 
promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army National Guard on May 12, 
2008. During this assignment, in 2008, she also completed a Master of 
Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War 
College.
   She next served at the Periodic Review Secretariat in Arlington, 
Virginia beginning in April 2012, where she served as the Deputy 
Director for Operations. She entered the Retired Reserves on July 31, 
2013, but continued to serve on Retiree Recall orders until May 2014.
   Colonel Harms' final uniformed assignment was at the Warrior 
Transition Unit at Fort Belvoir, VA, from June 2014 until July 2014.
   Cathleen Harms also had a distinguished career in public service as 
a New York City Police Officer. She retired as a Lieutenant in the New 
York City Police Department. During her NYPD career, she held the ranks 
of Police Officer, Detective, Sergeant and Lieutenant. Her positions 
included Patrol Officer, Patrol Supervisor, Detective Investigator, 
Supervisor of Narcotics Investigations and Operations, Platoon 
Commander, and Integrity Control Lieutenant. She was trained and 
experienced in performing internal and external investigations, 
conducting interviews and interrogations, preparing and reviewing 
reports and investigative findings, conducting and supervising search 
warrants, developing and managing confidential informants, and 
reviewing and managing overtime budgets.
   The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Harms culminate a long 
and distinguished career in the service of her community and country 
and reflect great credit upon herself, the United States Army, and the 
Department of Defense.
   Her Defense Superior Service Medal citation is attached to this 
submission.

      Defense Superior Service Medal to Colonel Cathleen A. Harms

        Colonel Cathleen A. Harms, United States Army, 
     distinguished herself by exceptionally superior service while 
     serving in various positions of increased responsibility, 
     culminating as Deputy Director for Operations, Periodic 
     Review Secretariat (PRS), Arlington, VA, from August 2004 
     through May 2013. Under her expert guidance, over 1,150 cases 
     were prepared for processes that determined enemy combatant 
     status, the transfer, continued detention or release of 
     detainees held at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She 
     managed the sensitive interface with foreign governments on 
     their nationals' status and handled numerous requests from 
     Congress, non-governmental organizations and the media. 
     Colonel Harms participated in the Presidential Task Force 
     under Executive Order 13492, which comprehensively reviewed 
     240 detainee cases. She was vital in the planning and 
     execution of the transition from the Office for 
     Administrative Review of the Detention of Enemy Combatants to 
     the PRS per Executive Order 13567. Her outstanding leadership 
     resulted in major contributions to national security and the 
     success of the PRS and OARDEC missions in support of 
     Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The distinctive accomplishments 
     of Colonel Harms culminated a long and distinguished

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     career in the service of her country and reflect great credit 
     upon herself, the United States Army, and the Department of 
     Defense.

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