Recognizing Thomas Harper

Floor Speech

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Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Thomas Harper, a Title 10 AGR Functional Area-59 qualified Major assigned to the Army National Guard G-5 as a Strategic Planner.

Mr. Harper began his service to our country at the age of 17 as an Infantryman in the Florida Army National Guard. He served 19 years in the Army at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels as a paratrooper, combat veteran, and qualified strategist. Mr. Harper served in units including infantry regiments, airborne special forces, the National Guard Bureau, the Department of the Army, the United States Special Operations Command, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He completed five operational tours in Afghanistan, Africa, and Central America.

Before returning to the Army National Guard G-5, Thomas Harper demonstrated his commitment to building and maintaining strong relationships between the Army and the legislative branch. Mr. Harper held the MILCON portfolio in the Readiness branch of the Programs Division at the Department of the Army's Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison from 2018 to 2020. In his work, Mr. Harper worked closely with Members of Congress and interagency partners. He assisted Army Senior Leaders with preparation for Congressional hearings and traveled with Members and their staff, as well as Armed Services Committee professional staff members. Mr. Harper was also selected twice as the detail to the Department of Defense COVID-19 task force.

Mr. Harper's achievements in his service to the United States have been recognized with countless awards. He is a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He received the French Cross of Military Valor at Division level (equivalent to the U.S. Silver Star) from the Ambassador of France for his combat actions in Afghanistan during December 2009. Mr. Harper is one of only seven Americans to receive this award since World War II. He has also been honored with the National Guard Association of the United States Patrick Henry Award, the National Guard Bureau's Outstanding Performance Award, the Georgia Military College Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and the Georgia Military College George C. Marshall Award.

Madam Speaker, Thomas Harper is an outstanding Army officer and model citizen who has served with honor for nearly two decades. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

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