[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E438-E439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF THE SERVICE OF COLONEL CHRIS A. McKINNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2021

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Chris 
A. McKinney, the outgoing Commander of the 177 Military Police Brigade. 
A key figure in protecting our Capitol, his service to our community 
and to our nation are worthy of commendation.
  Colonel McKinney's military and federal civilian service spans over 
three decades. He began his service as a Second Lieutenant and was 
selected for the Corps of Engineers in 1993. He served as an Engineer 
Platoon Leader, and as Executive Officer and Company Commander for C 
Co. 1/151st Infantry. He also served assignments in Aviation, the Judge 
Advocate General Corps and the Military Police Corps, as well as in the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security. 
Deployed in combat to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and to 
Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as a member of the Combined 
Joint Special Operations Task Force. Colonel McKinney has earned 
numerous awards and decorations for his service across the country and 
globe, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.
  During Colonel McKinney's tenure he led the Tiger Brigade in their 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included setting up acute care 
facilities and leading testing programs in Michigan's prisons and long-
term care facilities. Colonel McKinney and his team responded to the 
historic Midland Flooding, conducted the first ever MI Quick Reaction

[[Page E439]]

Force, and led planning and preparation for hurricane response to the 
U.S. Virgin Islands.
  An instrumental figure in protecting our nation's capital, Colonel 
McKinney led two task forces during the Presidential Inauguration and 
Operational Capitol Response II. We are eternally grateful for Colonel 
McKinney's leadership and the Michigan National Guard and their role in 
defending our Capitol and every person who works here.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Colonel 
Chris A. McKinney for his lifetime of invaluable service to this 
Nation. I join with Colonel McKinney's family--including his wife of 
thirty years, Terri, and his children Kate and Ryan--friends, and 
colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his exemplary and 
honorable service to this country.

                          ____________________