[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16930]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO LT. GEN. JOE N. BALLARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard, 49th Chief of Engineers and Commander, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, who is retiring from his post after 35 
commendable years of service to our Nation.
  Lt. Gen. Ballard assumed command of the Corps of Engineers on October 
1, 1996, and has been responsible for an annual budget of over $12 
billion and a leadership of a workforce of more than 35,000 civilian 
and military personnel worldwide.
  During his tenure as Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Ballard led the 
Corps of Engineers in a number of significant accomplishments. Among 
them were restructuring all levels of the organization, streamlining 
major changes in business practices, reemphasizing the Corps' missions 
in support of the Army and Department of Defense, and strengthening the 
organization's commitment to serve the nation and its vital interests.
  Lt. Gen. Ballard has managed Army Corps of Engineers missions--
including the nation's vast Civil Works Program, environmental 
restoration, and construction on military installations. His leadership 
has guided the Corps in assisting with recovery from natural disasters 
as well as regulating work in the Nation's waterways and wetlands, 
conducting research and development, serving as the Army and Air Force 
real estate agent, and providing engineering services to 60 other 
Federal agencies and more than 80 other nations. Earlier, he served as 
Commander of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with great distinction.
  In addition to the military honors that he has achieved, the Council 
of Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Career 
Communications Group recognized Lt. Gen. Ballard as the 1998 Black 
Engineer of the Year. He has also been the 1998-1999 president of the 
Society of American Military Engineers and a member of the National 
Engineering Honor society, Tau Beta Pi.
  Mr. Speaker, Lt. Gen. Ballard has had an outstanding career in the 
Corps of Engineers and with the Army. He will surely be missed by 
everyone at those organizations. As he retires, I wish Joe and his wife 
Tessie all the best. I am certain that the Members of the House will 
join me in paying tribute to this outstanding American.

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