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“MR. RAY FITZGERALD'S REMARKABLE SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1366 on Oct. 5, 2018.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
MR. RAY FITZGERALD'S REMARKABLE SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY
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HON. MO BROOKS
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 5, 2018
Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the remarkable career of a great American, Mr. Ray Fitzgerald, a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service, upon the occasion of his retirement after 46 years of selfless service to our nation. A highly respected leader, Ray Fitzgerald has made immeasurable contributions to the warfighter and the military community as a whole.
Mr. Fitzgerald had an exemplary military career. Upon graduating from the University of Alabama in 1972, he entered the U.S. Army. Rising to the rank of Colonel, his assignments included; Chief of Staff of the deployed 101st Airborne Division Task Force in Kosovo; Commander of the 101st Airborne Division Garrison at Fort Campbell, Ky.; Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.; senior brigade observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC); and Commander of U.S. Forces in the Balkans
(Bosnia). Mr. Fitzgerald also commanded the 1st Battalion, 50 8th Infantry (Airborne) during Operation Just Cause.
Mr. Fitzgerald was appointed to the Senior Executive Service after 30 years of Active Duty service as an Army Infantry Officer. He has led organizations at every level, culminating in his assignment as the Vice Director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO).
Mr. Fitzgerald served with distinction as the Deputy Director for Interagency and Interdepartmental Cooperation at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and was the Department of Defense Executive Manager detailed to the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), Quantico, VA. There he supported TEDAC's mission to eradicate the lED threat by providing scientific and technical exploitation, actionable intelligence, timely responses to requests and forecasting worldwide threats. While assigned to JIEDDO and JIDO, Mr. Fitzgerald has deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent deployment to Iraq in 2016 was as the Senior Coalition Advisor for the security of Baghdad. His 2014 deployment to Afghanistan was as the Senior Coalition Advisor/Mentor to the Afghanistan National Security Advisor.
Prior to JIDO, Mr. Fitzgerald served at the Department of State, where he was the Chief of Staff for the Bureau of Resource Management. His State Department duties also included two 18 month tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he served as the senior State Department representative responsible for Afghanistan Police Reform and as the political advisor (POLAD) to Task Force 714.
Ray Fitzgerald is the best friend a Warfighter ever had. He is a passionate, selfless leader who has devoted his life and energies to ensuring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines receive the best possible training, equipment, intelligence, and tactical support. While serving with JIDO, he has applied his extensive military background and knowledge to a myriad of material and non-material problem sets. His tenure spanned some of the most dangerous and critical periods in our Nation's fight against terrorism. As an aside, Mr. Fitzgerald never avoided a difficult task or assignment, tackled every complex problem, and consistently made a difference for deployed Warfighters.
Our Nation's history is grounded in the efforts of those like Ray Fitzgerald, who have served this nation with great distinction. He exemplifies what it means to commit one's life to his country and has more than earned our admiration and respect. Mr. Fitzgerald leaves a legacy of service that will most certainly serve as an inspiration to others for years to come.
My fellow colleagues, please join me in congratulating Mr. Ray Fitzgerald as he enters the next chapter of his life.
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