[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1771-E1772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MAJOR CURT OWENS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major Curt Owens 
for his past two years of exemplary dedication to duty and service as 
an Army Congressional Fellow and Congressional Liaison for the Chief of 
Army Reserve. I am grateful that he will continue to serve the Army and 
Congress in his new assignment as a legislative liaison in the Programs 
Division of the Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison. We wish him 
well in his new position.
  A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Major Owens earned a Bachelor of 
Science degree in business at Florida State University and was 
commissioned an infantry officer in the Army Reserve. He has earned 
advanced degrees in management and legislative affairs.

[[Page E1772]]

  Curt has served in a broad range of assignments during his 20 years 
of service as a citizen soldier. As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle 
platoon leader in the 100th Infantry Battalion during combat operations 
in Iraq. As a captain, he served as an operations officer in a combined 
joint special operations task force, commanded a basic combat training 
company, and served as platoon trainer at the basic officer leadership 
course, 11th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia.
  In 2013, following assignments as a battalion operations officer and 
executive officer with 1st Brigade, 98th Division, Major Owens was 
selected as an Army Congressional Fellow and assigned as the Defense 
Fellow in my office. In this role, Curt served as policy advisor on all 
matters relating to defense and national security. He provided me with 
candid advice and became a trusted source of counsel and productivity 
to my office.
  After this, he served as a legislative liaison in the Office of the 
Chief of Army Reserve. In this capacity, Curt represented the Chief of 
Army Reserve directly with the Senate and House Armed Services and 
Appropriations Committees to educate and inform Senators, 
Representatives, and staff on critical Army Reserve issues and 
programs.
  Throughout his twenty year career, Major Curt Owens has made positive 
impacts on the careers and lives of his soldiers, peers, and superiors. 
I am grateful that he has chosen to continue to serve as an Army 
leader. I join my colleagues today in honoring his dedication to our 
Nation and invaluable service to the United States Congress as an Army 
congressional liaison.
  Curt is accustomed to working long hours in his congressional 
relations work. So let me also acknowledge Curt's wife Allison, and 
their sons Grayson, Carter and Brady, thank them for their sacrifices 
and wish them all the best for continued success in the future.

                          ____________________