[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO GENERAL RAYMOND T. ODIERNO, 38TH CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and my cochair of the 
Army Caucus, the senior Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Reed, I rise 
today to honor GEN Raymond T. Odierno, the 38th Chief of Staff of the 
U.S. Army, and one of our Nation's finest military officers. General 
Odierno will retire from Active military duty in August 2015, bringing 
to a close 39 years of distinguished service to our great Nation.
  In 1976, General Odierno was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 
the Field Artillery upon graduation from the United States Military 
Academy at West Point. He commanded units at every echelon, from 
platoon to theater, with duty in Germany, Albania, Kuwait, Iraq, and 
the United States. General Odierno deployed in support of Operations 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm; commanded the 4th Infantry Division 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom from April 2003 to March 2004; served as 
the commanding general, Multi-National Corps--Iraq, III Corps, from 
2006 to 2008; and later served as the commanding general, Multi-
National Force--Iraq and subsequently United States Forces--Iraq, from 
2008 until 2010. General Odierno went on to serve as the commander of 
U.S. Joint Forces Command from 2010 to 2011, where he led the 
development and integration of joint capabilities in support of 
combatant command requirements around the world.
  On September 7, 2011, General Odierno became the 38th Chief of Staff 
of the U.S. Army. Since assuming this position, General Odierno's 
leadership and commitment to his soldiers, to the Army, and to the 
Nation have significantly contributed to the U.S. Army being the most 
highly trained and professional land force in the world.
  General Odierno developed and implemented the U.S. Army's vision 
establishing a path for the Army of 2025 and beyond. He envisioned how 
future Army forces would prevent conflict, shape security environments, 
and win wars. He ensured that we possessed the capability and capacity 
to provide globally responsive and regionally aligned forces, as well 
as expeditionary and decisive land-power across the range of military 
operations in defense of our Nation at home and abroad, both today and 
against emerging threats.
  But the one thing that remained constant was General Odierno's 
tireless commitment to soldiers and their families. He built leaders 
capable of navigating the complex challenges of the world we face today 
and cared for our families by focusing on keeping the total Army--
soldiers, families, and civilians alike--healthy, ready, resilient, and 
total Army strong. General Odierno is an exceptional leader, an 
American patriot committed to our Army and Nation, but most 
importantly, General Odierno is a great man of character. It is for GEN 
Ray Odierno, a soldier, leader, and selfless servant, whom we with 
profound admiration and deep respect pay tribute to for all he has done 
for the U.S. Army and our Nation. We thank General Odierno, his wife 
Linda, and his three children, Tony, Katie, and Mike, for their 
dedication and sacrifice, and we wish them well in the years to come.

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