[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS TO COLONEL THEODORE C. ``TC'' WILLIAMS ON HIS 
                 RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional officer in the United States Army, Colonel Theodore C. 
``TC'' Williams. Throughout his 27 years of distinguished service, COL 
Williams has personified the Army values of duty, integrity and 
selfless service across the many missions that the Army provides in 
defense of our Nation. As the Chief of Programs Division in the Office 
of the Secretary of the Army, many of us on Capitol Hill have enjoyed 
the opportunity to work with COL Williams on a wide variety of Army 
issues and programs. It's my privilege to recognize COL Williams and 
his many accomplishments.
  COL Williams, the son of the late Theodore C. Williams, Jr and 
Phyllis Kane Williams of Potomac, Maryland, attended Winston Church 
Hill Senior High School in Potomac, Maryland, and was commissioned as a 
Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in 1985 after graduating from The 
Citadel in South Carolina.
  He served from 1986 to 1989 as a rifle platoon leader, company 
executive officer, and reconnaissance platoon leader in 1st Battalion, 
27th Infantry ``Wolfhounds'' at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. From 1990 
to 1993, he served as the battalion assistant operations officer then 
commander of Bravo Company in 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Cotton-
Bailers during the Persian Gulf War and at Fort Stewart, Georgia. From 
1993 to 1994, COL Williams served as a Senior Infantry Trainer in the 
24th Infantry Division Resident Training Detachment assisting the 48th 
Brigade, Georgia National Guard. From 1995 to 1998, COL Williams was a 
small group instructor for the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and 
tactics team chief in the Tactics Department of the Infantry School at 
Fort Benning, Georgia. From 1999 to 2001, he served as operations 
officer and then executive officer in 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry 
``Tomahawks'' at Fort Lewis, Washington.
  From 2001 to 2003, COL Williams was an Army Congressional liaison in 
the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison where he was principally 
responsible for overseeing the efficient operation of the division and 
managing the Army's legislative portfolio on the Chem-Bio Defense 
program.
  In 2003, LTC Williams left OCLL to take command of the 2nd Battalion, 
6th Infantry ``Gators'' during Operation Iraqi Freedom and at Smith 
Barracks in Germany from June 2003 to June 2005. For twelve months, 
Force Gator conducted combat and stability operations in southeast 
Baghdad. In April 2004, while conducting transfer of authority to the 
follow-on unit, the tactical situation in Iraq deteriorated and the 
battalion task force was alerted to conduct combat operations in Najaf 
and Al Kut. Following decisive combat operations in south-central Iraq, 
the task force was extended in Iraq for three months to conduct combat 
and stability operations in the infamous ``Triangle of Death.'' For 
operations conducted April to July 2004, the battalion received the 
Presidential Unit Citation as part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored 
Division. Upon redeploying to Germany after fifteen months in Iraq, the 
battalion conducted reset and full-spectrum operations training in 
preparation to deploy again in late 2005.
  From 2005 to 2007, LTC Williams returned to the Office of the Chief 
of Legislative Liaison to serve as the Legislative Assistant to the 
Vice Chief of Staff, Army (VCSA). He stood out amongst his peers and 
made himself an indispensible part of the VCSA's personal staff.
  From 2007 to 2009, he was promoted to Colonel and led the division 
within OCLL that develops the congressional engagement strategy for the 
Secretary, Chief of Staff, Under Secretary, Vice Chief of Staff, and 
Sergeant Major of the Army. He performed exceptionally. He personally 
improved the Army's strategic communication with the Congress, and 
developed the engagement strategy and legislative objectives for the 
Army's Senior Leadership.
  From 2009 to 2012, COL Williams performed duties as the Chief of 
Programs. He expertly led the planning of the Army's congressional 
engagement strategies between senior Army Staff leaders and Members of 
Congress, leading directly to a defense authorizations bill that 
enhanced the Army's ability to recruit, retain, and reset the world's 
premiere fighting force.
  Through these varying assignments, COL Williams provided outstanding 
leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on critical issues 
of enduring importance to both the Army and Congress. On behalf of 
Congress, I thank COL Williams, his wife Helen, and his entire family 
for the commitment, sacrifices, and contribution they have made 
throughout his honorable military career. Congratulations on completing 
an exceptional and successful career.

                          ____________________