[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF MAJOR TOOLE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 2016

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Major Travis N. Toole for 
his dedication to duty and service as an Army Officer. In 2014, Travis 
was selected to be an Army Congressional Fellow in my office. His 
portfolio included working with Team Monterey, all the Department of 
Defense entities located in Monterey, CA. Team Monterey includes the 
Defense Language Institute and the Naval Postgraduate School, Guard and 
Reserve facilities, SATCOM, and nine other critical DoD and Navy 
missions all located in Monterey, after the closure of the former Fort 
Ord.
   Major Toole staffed me for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and brought his expertise as 
an Engineer to the portfolio that led to significant accomplishments. 
He was instrumental in working the halls of the Pentagon on behalf of 
the California National Guard to secure funding for a bridge 
replacement, a number one priority of the Guard for several years. His 
diligence to constituent services enabled him to help a local transit 
provider navigate the Army bureaucracy for ultimate payment of transit 
services. He was well respected by the Military Construction 
Appropriations staff for his contributions to the Subcommittee hearings 
and markup.
   When Travis returned to the Pentagon as an Army Congressional Budget 
Liaison, he worked closely with the House and Senate Military 
Constructions Appropriations Subcommittees, ensuring Army's budget 
positions were extremely well represented and articulated to the 
Committees. He assisted the Subcommittee staff with their oversight 
responsibilities in Korea, Japan and many CONUS facilities, and 
accompanied Members visiting Afghanistan during the Christmas holiday.
   The next step for Major Toole will be further military education at 
the Command and General Staff College at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
   A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Major Toole was commissioned as an 
Engineer officer after his graduation from Ohio University with a 
Bachelor of Arts degree. He has subsequently earned a Master's degree 
in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University. He has 
served in a broad range of assignments during his Army career. Major 
Toole's previous assignments include serving as a Mobility Support 
Platoon Leader for the 562nd Engineer Company, 172nd Stryker Brigade 
Combat Team, and a Sapper Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for the 
73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division at Fort 
Wainwright, Alaska.
   He then served as a Current Operations Officer for the 130th 
Engineer Brigade and commanded the 34th Sapper Company, 65th Engineer 
Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Travis has led Soldiers in 
combat as a Platoon Leader, Battalion Operations Officer, and Company 
Commander while deployed in direct support of combat operations in Iraq 
on three separate occasions.
   Throughout his distinguished Army career, Travis has positively 
affected his Soldiers, peers, and superiors. His extraordinary 
leadership, thoughtful judgment, and exemplary work have made our 
country safer. On behalf of a grateful nation, I commend Major Travis 
Toole for his service to our nation and wish him all the best as he 
continues his journey in the United States Army.

                          ____________________