[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 126 (Thursday, July 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING COLONEL TODD W. LYONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2019

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Todd W. 
Lyons for his thirty years of honorable service to our country and 
congratulate him on his retirement from the United States Marine Corps.
   Col. Lyons was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United 
States Marine Corps in 1989. He graduated with honors from the Field 
Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, and in 1994 he returned to serve 
as a Fire Support Instructor. After his subsequent assignment, he was 
selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a 
master's degree in National Security Affairs. Col. Lyons was selected 
for duty as a Marine Attache in 2000, studying Arabic at the Foreign 
Service Institute in Washington, DC. Col. Lyons then served as an 
Attache in Qatar, Israel, and Oman, where he led strategic planning 
teams to further national security objectives.
   After his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 2005, Col. Lyons was 
selected to attend the Israeli National Defense College where he 
graduated with honors. In 2008, Col. Lyons deployed to Iraq as an 
Engagements Officer where he was a key figure in coordinating allies to 
secure the transfer of Anbar Province back to Iraqi control. In 2014 he 
returned to the Defense Attache Service and served as the Chief of 
Operations until 2016, where he directed operations in crisis regions 
throughout the world.
   Col. Lyons is currently the Senior Marine Representative at the 
Naval Postgraduate school, where he teaches Innovation Leadership and 
is widely respected as a professor and mentor of our next generation of 
military leaders. In his role as the Associate Dean of Research, Col. 
Lyons employs an interdisciplinary approach by connecting academic 
researchers with military practitioners.
   Col. Lyons' personal decorations emphasize his efforts and 
unwavering dedication to serving our country. They include the Defense 
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Navy and Marine 
Corps Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and the Navy and Marine 
Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars. Col. Lyons has received two 
Department of State Superior Honor Awards for his esteemed work as an 
Attache, one for his work in Israel during the Israeli withdrawal from 
Gaza in 2005 and another for his work in Oman between 2011 and 2014.
   Col. Lyon's distinguished career of military service is nothing 
short of an inspiration, and his legacy of teaching and leadership will 
undoubtedly live on through our future generations of service members. 
He embodies dedication and service, and the central coast of California 
has benefitted greatly from his presence. I whole-heartedly wish Col. 
Lyons, his wife Kristiana and their three daughters, Grace, Eleanor and 
Jordan the best during his retirement. Madam Speaker, I ask that my 
colleagues in the House join me in thanking Colonel Todd W. Lyons for 
his honorable service to our nation and congratulating him on his well-
deserved retirement.

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