[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18598]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL BOB HARTER

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I acknowledge COL Bob 
Harter of the United States Army Reserve as he is promoted to brigadier 
general, effective November 8, 2015. The Harter family has long roots 
in Alaska; Bob's grandparents moved to Fairbanks in the early 1940s, 
and Bob's father, LTC Robert Harter, retired, was raised in Fairbanks, 
leaving Alaska to attend the United States Military Academy in 1961. 
Bob lived in Alaska in the mid-1970s, when Bob's father was stationed 
at Fort Wainwright. While Bob has spent the last 27 years serving his 
country both at home and abroad, he has always maintained his Alaskan 
residence and remains the son of a proud Alaska family. In fact, both 
Bob and his father travel to Cordova, AK, every summer to spend time on 
the family boat, fishing and enjoying ``the last frontier.''
  BG Bob Harter is the incoming director of the Office, Chief Army 
Reserve, OCAR, Staff. He was previously assigned to the Army's chief of 
staff transition team, where he provided a total force perspective for 
GEN Mark Milley, the newly assigned chief of staff of the Army. As the 
director of the OCAR Staff, Brigadier General Harter will be 
responsible for synchronizing the actions of the 400-person Army 
Reserve headquarters based out of Fort Belvoir, VA, in support of the 
chief of Army Reserve's priorities.
  A graduate of Virginia Tech, Brigadier General Harter began his 
military career in 1988 as an artillery officer, assigned to the 11th 
Armored Cavalry Regiment, ACR, in Bad Hersfeld, Germany.
  While assigned to the 11th ACR, Brigadier General Harter participated 
in multiple border security missions prior to the fall of the Berlin 
Wall and German reunification. Colonel Harter also deployed with the 
regiment to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operation Desert 
Storm.
  Upon returning from Desert Storm, Colonel Harter transferred to the 
Ordnance Corps and was reassigned to Fort Campbell, KY, where he served 
as a group maintenance officer; battalion operations officer, S3; and 
as commander, 584th Direct Support, DS, Maintenance Company.
  In 1999, Brigadier General Harter transferred from the Active 
component to the Reserve component, entered the Active Guard and 
Reserve program, and was assigned to the 99th Regional Readiness 
Command in Pittsburgh, PA, as a training chief for a readiness team, 
with a follow on assignment to the 55th Sustainment Brigade, Fort 
Belvoir, as the brigade support operations officer.
  In 2006, Brigadier General Harter transferred to the 316th 
Expeditionary Sustainment Command and, in 2007, deployed to Balad, 
Iraq, for one year. While in Iraq, Brigadier General Harter served as 
the 316th's distribution management chief, responsible for 
synchronizing logistics support to the more than 150,000 military 
members operating in Iraq.
  Upon redeployment from Iraq, Brigadier General Harter attended the 
National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, DC, and was 
subsequently assigned as branch chief in the Force Protection Division, 
J8, of the Joint Staff. While in the J8, Brigadier General Harter was 
responsible for vetting the mine-resistant ambush protected, MRAP, and 
counter improvised explosive device requirements in support of Central 
Command, CENTCOM, operations.
  In 2011, Brigadier General Harter became the executive officer for 
the chief, Army Reserve, and, in 2013, assumed duties as the Office, 
Chief Army Reserve assistant chief of staff.
  Brigadier General Harter's awards include the Legion of Merit, the 
Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the parachutist 
and air assault badges. Brigadier General Harter is a graduate of the 
National War College. He lives in Stafford, VA, with his wife, Erin, 
also a Virginia Tech graduate, and his three children: Anna, 20, 
currently a sophomore at the University of Virginia; Bobby, 16; and 
Jack, 14.
  It is only fair and proper to acknowledge the unwavering support of 
his wife, Erin, and their three children, as they enabled him to work 
tirelessly on his assigned duties throughout his career and will 
undoubtedly continue to do so for many years to come. Let us thank them 
all for their sacrifices and wish them continued success in the 
future.

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