[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1612-E1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING MAJOR GENERAL RONALD KIRKLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major 
General Ronald Kirklin, a dedicated and distinguished veteran of the 
U.S. Army.
  Major General Kirklin is a Distinguished Military Graduate from 
Mississippi Valley State University in the class of 1987. With a 
master's degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State 
University and in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College he 
has shown many that ``Education is the most powerful weapon which you 
can use to change the world.'' as stated by Nelson Mandela.
  MG Kirklin's military service began from 1988 to 1991 in the 11th 
Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Fulda, Germany, where, he served as a 
Platoon Leader, General Supply Officer, and Squadron S4, Combat Support 
Squadron. After graduating from the Advanced Course, he was assigned to 
the 5th Infantry Division, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, from 1992 to 1993, 
as a Class IX Accountable Officer. From 1993 to 1996, he was assigned 
to the 124th Main Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, at Fort 
Hood, Texas, as the Supply and Services Officer, Support Operations 
Officer, and later as the Light Maintenance Company Commander. After 
completion of Company Command, he served as the Task Force XXI Combat 
Systems Manager, 4th Infantry Division.
  From 1996 to 1999, Kirklin was assigned to Hohenfels, Germany, where 
he functioned as the Combat Service Support Observer/Controller on the 
Grizzlies and Timberwolves Maneuver Teams, and later as the Operations 
Group S4. From 1999 to 2000, he was a student at the Command and 
General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Kirklin was then 
assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, from 2000 to 2002, 
where he was the Executive Officer in the 215th Forward

[[Page E1613]]

Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and 
1st Calvary Division DISCOM S3. His following assignment was as the 
Course Director, Combined Captains Career Course, at Fort Lee, 
Virginia, from 2002 to 2004.
  In 2004, Kirklin returned to Fort Hood, and was again assigned to the 
1st Cavalry Division DISCOM, a Deputy Commander while deployed to Taji, 
Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After re-deployment in March 
2005, he assumed Command of the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Hood, on 14 July 2005. As commander, he 
deployed the battalion to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-08, Diyala 
Province, Iraq, and then recovered the unit back to Fort Hood.
  After relinquishing Battalion Command in March 2008, he attended the 
U.S. Army War College, at Carlisle Baracks, Pennsylvania. After 
graduating from the War College in 2009, Kirklin returned to Fort Hood, 
and assumed command of the 4th Sustainment Brigade on 14 July 2009. He 
deployed as the 4th Sustainment Brigade to Tallil, Iraq, in support of 
Operation New Dawn in February 2011. Kirklin redeployed the Brigade 
from Tallil, Iraq, in December 2011, after serving as the final 
Sustainment Brigade to close out sustainment and retrograde operations 
to end Operation New Dawn. In January 2012, Kirklin was assigned to the 
United States Central Command J4, in Tampa, Florida, as Chief of 
Current Operations.
  Kirlin became the 53rd Commandant of the Quartermaster School on 9 
June 2014-June 2016. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 5 December 
2014.
  In June 2016 MG Kirklin was assigned as the Director of Operatons, G-
4 3/5/7, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 at the Pentagon, 
Washington, followed by assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 U.S. 
Army Forces Command.
  MG Kirklin was decorated and received many awards which includes: the 
National Defense Service Medal; Legion of Merit (2 Bronze Oak Leaf 
Clusters); Bronze Star Medal (2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters); Meritorious 
Service Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (2 
Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Achievement Medal; Iraqi Campaign 
Medal; Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War of 
Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Army Overseas Service 
Ribbon; Combat Action Badge; and Parachutist Badge. MG Kirklin was also 
recognized in a journal article: Top Black Officers in the U.S. 
Military: US Black Engineer and Information Technology; Vol. 41, No. 4 
(WINTER 2017), pp. 240-75; Published by the Career Communications 
Group.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Major 
General Ronald Kirklin for his amorous, dedicated and superior loyalty 
to our community in the 2nd Congressional District, the U.S. of America 
and U.S. Army since 1988 to the present. We salute Major General Ronald 
Kirklin for his accomplishments.

                          ____________________