[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5180-S5181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ESTEE PINCHASIN

 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise today to honor COL 
Estee Pinchasin, outgoing commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Baltimore District. Since her commissioning as a second lieutenant in 
1998, Colonel Pinchasin has diligently served our country through a 
remarkable tenure with the corps. Appointed to the role of commander on 
July 16, 2021,

[[Page S5181]]

Colonel Pinchasin took on this responsibility with enthusiasm and 
dedication.
  Throughout her time as commander, Colonel Pinchasin has demonstrated 
effective leadership and command of approximately 1,200 employees, 
while overseeing critical engineering and construction programs for the 
mid-Atlantic region. Colonel Pinchasin has been responsible for roughly 
7,000 miles of coastline, including the Susquehanna River, Potomac 
River, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Delivering on critical solutions 
to support disaster resiliency, construction of Federal facilities, and 
environmental restoration, Colonel Pinchasin has emphasized partnership 
and coordination with local organizations to meet the goals of the 
Corps of Engineers.
  After the fall of Kabul in 2021, Colonel Pinchasin successfully 
implemented multiple operational logistical hubs, which allowed for the 
rapid processing of evacuees from Afghanistan. Stemming from her 
previous experience as corps officer in charge in Kandahar, Colonel 
Pinchasin understood the importance of ensuring a comfortable and warm 
welcome for refugees. Her deep-seated values of respect and 
collaboration have led to more than a dozen awards and decorations 
throughout her career so far, including the NATO and Meritorious 
Service Medals.
  In recent months, we have seen the tremendous results of Colonel 
Pinchasin's leadership. In the aftermath of Maryland's Francis Scott 
Key Bridge collapse in late March 2024, her work through the Unified 
Command made it possible for the corps to have an impact in Baltimore 
that has been nothing short of exemplary. Her steadfast leadership and 
operational expertise were instrumental in the execution of recovery 
operations, which were critical to clearing debris and restoring access 
to the Fort McHenry Channel. Her effective use of mobilized resources 
facilitated a swift and efficient response that provided the Unified 
Command with the technical expertise needed to ensure success.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Colonel Pinchasin for her 
outstanding leadership and service as commander of the Baltimore 
District, and I wish her continued success in her subsequent 
posts.

                          ____________________