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[Pages S1984-S1985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL THOMAS VON ESCHENBACH
Mr. JONES. Madam President, today I pay tribute to a great
leader and an exceptional officer of the U.S. Army, COL Thomas von
Eschenbach, now serving as the director, Capabilities Development and
Integration Directorate at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence
at Fort Rucker, AL, as he prepares to retire from military service on
May 31, 2019.
COL Thomas von Eschenbach has served our Army and our Nation for more
than 28 years. He has been a true professional; a dedicated soldier,
leader, and officer. Throughout his career he has commanded our great
soldiers at many levels; he has deployed to combat numerous times in
defense of the Nation; and he has been assigned critical positions in
our military. Colonel von Eschenbach has provided outstanding
leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on numerous issues
of enduring importance to the Army, Congress, and this Nation.
A native of Alabama, Colonel von Eschenbach was commissioned a second
lieutenant of aviation upon graduating from Auburn University ROTC as a
Distinguished Military Graduate. His first assignment after flight
school was at Fort Bragg, NC, where he served as a platoon leader,
company executive officer, and battalion staff officer. He next served
in Germany as a troop commander and division staff officer.
Upon his return from Germany, Colonel von Eschenbach served as a
small group leader and later company commander in the Aviation Branch
Captains' Career Course and Warrant Officer Advanced Courses at Fort
Rucker, AL. As a field-grade officer he returned to Fort Bragg and
served as the battalion executive officer and operations officer for an
attack battalion, and later brigade operation officer in the 82nd
Combat Aviation Brigade to include a deployment to Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
After an assignment in Army Human Resources Command, Colonel von
Eschenbach commanded an Air Cavalry Squadron Task Force during a
deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
After this command, he served on the Army staff as the Deputy Director
for Army Aviation.
For the past 4 years, Colonel von Eschenbach has served as the
director of the Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate at
the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. In this role he was
responsible to the development of future doctrine and concepts, force
structure, and capability requirements for Army aviation to ensure our
aviation forces and soldiers
[[Page S1985]]
have the right concepts and equipment to prevail in future conflicts.
On behalf of the State of Alabama, the 116th Congress, and the United
States of America, I thank COL Thomas von Eschenbach, U.S. Army, and
his entire family for their commitment, sacrifice, and contributions to
this great Nation. I join my colleagues in wishing Colonel von
Eschenbach future success as he transitions to other opportunities to
serve the Army and our country.
____________________
