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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING COLONEL TODD W. LYONS
______
HON. JIMMY PANETTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Todd W.
Lyons for his thirty years of honorable service to our country and
congratulate him on his retirement from the United States Marine Corps.
Col. Lyons was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United
States Marine Corps in 1989. He graduated with honors from the Field
Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, and in 1994 he returned to serve
as a Fire Support Instructor. After his subsequent assignment, he was
selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a
master's degree in National Security Affairs. Col. Lyons was selected
for duty as a Marine Attache in 2000, studying Arabic at the Foreign
Service Institute in Washington, DC. Col. Lyons then served as an
Attache in Qatar, Israel, and Oman, where he led strategic planning
teams to further national security objectives.
After his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 2005, Col. Lyons was
selected to attend the Israeli National Defense College where he
graduated with honors. In 2008, Col. Lyons deployed to Iraq as an
Engagements Officer where he was a key figure in coordinating allies to
secure the transfer of Anbar Province back to Iraqi control. In 2014 he
returned to the Defense Attache Service and served as the Chief of
Operations until 2016, where he directed operations in crisis regions
throughout the world.
Col. Lyons is currently the Senior Marine Representative at the
Naval Postgraduate school, where he teaches Innovation Leadership and
is widely respected as a professor and mentor of our next generation of
military leaders. In his role as the Associate Dean of Research, Col.
Lyons employs an interdisciplinary approach by connecting academic
researchers with military practitioners.
Col. Lyons' personal decorations emphasize his efforts and
unwavering dedication to serving our country. They include the Defense
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Navy and Marine
Corps Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and the Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars. Col. Lyons has received two
Department of State Superior Honor Awards for his esteemed work as an
Attache, one for his work in Israel during the Israeli withdrawal from
Gaza in 2005 and another for his work in Oman between 2011 and 2014.
Col. Lyon's distinguished career of military service is nothing
short of an inspiration, and his legacy of teaching and leadership will
undoubtedly live on through our future generations of service members.
He embodies dedication and service, and the central coast of California
has benefitted greatly from his presence. I whole-heartedly wish Col.
Lyons, his wife Kristiana and their three daughters, Grace, Eleanor and
Jordan the best during his retirement. Madam Speaker, I ask that my
colleagues in the House join me in thanking Colonel Todd W. Lyons for
his honorable service to our nation and congratulating him on his well-
deserved retirement.
____________________
