[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 80TH BIRTHDAY OF MAJOR GENERAL [RET.] GERALD G. 
                                 WATSON

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2015

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my 
friend, Major General (Ret.) Gerald G. Watson, in honor of his 80th 
birthday.
  Watson graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Science 
degree in chemistry. He was designated a distinguished military 
graduate and received a regular Army commission in the U.S. Army 
Chemical Corps. He went on to earn a Master of Science in logistics 
systems analysis from the Air Force Institute of Technology. His 
military education included the Artillery Officers Basic Course, the 
Chemical Officers Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff 
College and the U.S. Army War College.
  During Watson's extensive military career, he served as the first 
chemical operations officer in the Military Assistance Command in 
Vietnam, where he directed the U.S. Air Force ``Ranch Hand'' 
operations, involving the chemical defoliation program. Most of his 
missions were flown in a craft nicknamed ``Patches,'' due to the vessel 
having endured more than 500 direct hits from enemy ground fire. Under 
his leadership, the defoliation program successfully resulted in over a 
90 percent reduction in ambushes from Vietcong forces in South Vietnam.
  Watson directed the construction and operation of the first two large 
scale chemical weapons demilitarization facilities while serving as 
Commander of Rocky Mountain Arsenal. During this time, 7,000 tons of 
chemical warfare agents were successfully destroyed.
  He oversaw the development of the Army's plan for the destruction of 
its biological weapons stockpile. Later, he served as Program Manager 
to see the plans be carried out and the biological weapons sufficiently 
eliminated.
  In the office of the Army's deputy Chief-of-Staff for Operations, 
Watson spearheaded the re-establishment of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps 
while acting as Director of the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical 
Operations Division. He also served as the Deputy Inspector General for 
the U.S. Army, where he contributed greatly to the Army's world-wide 
readiness.
  Following that assignment, Watson was promoted to Brigadier General, 
and assigned as the Commandant, U.S. Army Chemical School where he was 
responsible for the development of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps' 
operational doctrine and material requirements. As Commanding General, 
he was responsible for the officer and enlisted personnel training 
activities to include the approval of the first chemical live agent 
training facility in the free world. During this time, he was 
responsible for conducting officer and enlisted basic and advanced 
training for approximately 3,000 officers, 25,000 NCOs and enlisted 
personnel per year.
  Selected to be the Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency in 1989, 
Watson was responsible for conducting underground nuclear weapons tests 
to determine the equipment and personnel's survivability and 
vulnerability to withstand the environment created by nuclear weapons.
  Watson served as General Manager and President of Teledyne-Commodore 
LLC after retiring from active duty. From 1998-2009, he acted as senior 
advisor to the Vice President for Research at Auburn University. He has 
served on the Board of Directors of Science Engineering Services, Inc., 
as well as the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of 
Calhoun County. General Watson has also completed his third term as a 
member of the Vestry of St. Michael's and All Angels in Anniston, 
Alabama.
  Currently, he continues to serve as a senior consultant in a range of 
issues including domestic preparedness, fuel cell technology, chemical 
and biological sensors, automotive manufacturing technology and canine 
olfactory technology. Watson is engaged in support of areas relating to 
the domestic preparedness of first responders and to acts of terrorism 
involving weapons of mass destruction.
  Although his birthday is on February 19th, a surprise celebration 
will be held on February 21st at Classic on Noble in Anniston, Alabama.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating Major General (Ret.) 
Gerald Watson on this milestone, and thanking him for his outstanding 
service to our country.

                          ____________________