[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING SERGEANT MAJOR ROBERT HAWKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TIMOTHY J. WALZ

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2017

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Major 
Robert Hawkins of the United States Army for his extraordinary 
dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Sergeant Major Hawkins 
will soon transition from his current assignment as an Army 
Congressional Legislative Liaison Officer in the House of 
Representatives to serve in The Office of the Assistant Secretary of 
the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.
   A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Sergeant Major Hawkins began his 
military career as an Airborne Infantryman in 1990. He subsequently 
served in assignments to Fort Kobbe, Republic of Panama; Fort Myers, 
Florida; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Bliss, 
Texas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and thrice at Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina. Sergeant Major Hawkins has served in multiple leadership and 
staff positions throughout his career. His combat deployments include 
one tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and three tours 
in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
   In 2014, Sergeant Major Hawkins was selected as a Fellow in the Army 
Congressional Fellowship Program. He subsequently served twelve months 
as a Defense Legislative Fellow in my office, representing the First 
Congressional District of Minnesota. While working on my team, I came 
to know Sergeant Major Hawkins as a shining example of the Army Values 
set forth in the Noncommissioned Officer Creed. Competence is indeed 
Sergeant Major Hawkins' watchword, and his commitment to doing what 
good NCOs do, accomplishing the mission taking care of his teammates, 
was second to none.
   For next two years, Sergeant Major Hawkins served as a Congressional 
Legislative Liaison Officer in the United States Army House Liaison 
Division. As the primary liaison between Members of the House of 
Representatives, their Staffs, Committees, and the Army, he has 
provided insight and understanding of Army policies, actions, 
operations, and requirements. His first-hand knowledge of the military, 
its culture, and traditions has been of tremendous value to 
Congressional offices. Sergeant Major Hawkins was especially effective 
in his service to Members and staff as he escorted them on fact-finding 
and oversight delegations within and outside the United States. Members 
and staff found him to be a thoughtful, intelligent, and dedicated 
Soldier in the best traditions of America's Armed Forces.
   Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to know and serve with Sergeant 
Major Hawkins during his time as an Army Congressional Fellow and 
Congressional Legislative Liaison Officer in the House of 
Representatives. On behalf of a grateful Nation, it is my honor to 
recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Sergeant Major Robert 
Hawkins and his family. I wish Sergeant Major Hawkins the very best as 
he begins a new chapter of dedicated service to our nation in the 
United States Army.

                          ____________________