[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL WILLIAM P. DAVIS

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I honor the career of one of 
Louisiana's heroes and most accomplished residents, retired Marine 
Corps Col. William P. Davis. Colonel Davis was born at Camp Pendleton, 
CA, the son of a career marine, and spent his youth following his 
father's military postings. He is a combat veteran of Operation Desert 
Storm, and subsequently assigned as the supply, fiscal, and contracting 
officer for Landing Force Training Command Atlantic. In 1997, he was 
assigned to his first tour at the Marines Forces Reserve in New 
Orleans, LA. During that period, he was a parent volunteer for the 
Young Marines chapter in Slidell, LA, where he organized training 
events and tours to units and bases. In addition, he provided classes 
for the annual regimental encampment as well as at recruit training 
events.
  Colonel Davis was operations officer for Joint Task Force Civil 
Support, a military organization under the U.S. Northern Command at 
Fort Monroe, VA, where he led a team of technical experts in planning 
post-incident recovery from chemical, biological, radiological or 
nuclear incidents. He supported planning for the 2006 Winter Olympics, 
2006 Southeast Asian Games, and other exercises across the world. 
During Hurricane Katrina's aftermath in 2005, he worked with Federal, 
military, State, and local authorities in support of response 
operations.
  Colonel Davis returned to New Orleans in 2006, becoming assistant 
chief of Staff at Marine Forces Reserve. He led a staff of 80 people 
charged with overseeing construction, maintenance, and repairs of 187 
reserve sites nationwide, including the construction of the 29-acre 
Marine Corps Support Facility in New Orleans. From 2011 until recently, 
Colonel Davis was the inaugural commandant of the New Orleans Military 
and Maritime Academy, a charter high school where all students are 
cadets of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps 
Program and are focused on college preparation with an emphasis on 
science, technology, engineering, and math. In his job as commandant, 
Colonel Davis has helped positively shape the lives of several hundred 
cadets from the region. After 4 years of operation, the academy has 
test results and student performance improvement ranked well above 
averages by more established schools. Beginning in 2016, Colonel Davis 
will leave Louisiana to become the next national executive director and 
CEO of the Young Marines.
  Colonel Davis is an accomplished executive whose commitment to young 
people has always been fundamental during his career. He is highly 
regarded for strategic thinking, sound financial management, marketing 
expertise, and exceptional project management skills. He is a 
distinguished leader who will bring military expertise and business 
experience to the Young Marines.
  I am pleased to join with the Senate in honoring the career of 
retired Col. William P. Davis. We thank him for his service to our 
country and congratulate him as he begins the next chapter of his 
career.

                          ____________________