[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          HONORING ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL ISABEL RIVERA SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 2021

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments 
of an extraordinary woman and hometown heroine, Brigadier General 
Isabel Rivera Smith of Lorain, Ohio.
  BGen Smith, who was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, was a member of 
Sacred Heart Parish and a graduate of Admiral King High School.
  She first enlisted into the active Army in October of 1985 as a Motor 
Transport Operator, with her first duty station at Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina.
  In 1988, she enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard and 
in 1989 she transferred to the New York Army National Guard. She was 
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps after 
graduating from Officer Candidate School.
  BGen Smith's command assignments and operational deployment include 
Commander of HHD, 53rd Troop Command, Commander of the 369th Special 
Troops Battalion and Deputy Team Chief-Iraq Police National 
Headquarters in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2010.
  Her key staff assignments include Assistant Operational Officer at 
the 27th Rear Area Operations Center; personalist for the 369th Corps 
Support Battalion, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1 for the 
53rd Troop Command, Executive Officer of the 106th Regional Training 
Institute, Deputy Director of Logistics (J4) for the New York National 
Guard, Executive Officer for the Office of the Adjutant General, and 
the Chief of Staff for the 53rd Troop Command.
  BGen Smith's awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star 
Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the 
Army Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. She is also 
the recipient of the 2017 Latina Style Military Service Award.
  BGen Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Mount St. 
Mary's College, a master's degree in Education in Counseling and 
Development from Long Island University and a master's degree in 
Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
  She and her husband Peter have six daughters: Antoinette, Amelia, 
Karissa, Kassandra, Jessica, and Shannon, and one son: Jamarr. They are 
also the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren.
  Our country could not be prouder of Brigadier General Isabel Rivera 
Smith, a daughter of Ohio, trailblazer, and a true American patriot. 
The words of Army General Omar Bradley aptly capture BGen Smith's 
professional accomplishments: ``Leadership is intangible, and therefore 
no weapon ever designed can replace it.''

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