H.R. No. 1471

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Hess of Round Rock has compiled an exceptional record of achievement in a career that has consistently been devoted to the public interest; and

WHEREAS, Born on April 19, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Colonel Hess was raised in New Jersey, near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force; as a young man, he worked in maintenance at Fort Dix to help pay his tuition at Burlington County Community College; after receiving an associate's degree in environmental science, he moved to San Antonio in 1972 to attend Trinity University, where he majored in history and was a member of the ROTC; he graduated in 1974 with a bachelor of arts degree and began his military career with his commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army; and

WHEREAS, Over the next 20 years, Colonel Hess served at bases all across the globe; his first assignment was as an armor and infantry weapons platoon leader with the 9th Infantry at Camp Casey, Korea, and he subsequently served with the 10th Cavalry at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Wiesbaden, Germany; after completing the Chemical Officer Advanced Course at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, he worked with the nuclear directorate of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; during his time at Fort Leavenworth, he contributed to the development of the army's doctrine for responding to a tactical nuclear war and helped establish a school to train military officers in nuclear warfare; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Hess then served as a chemical officer at Fort Richardson, Alaska, and in Maastricht, Netherlands; while stationed at Fort Hood as a chemical officer from 1992 until his retirement in 1994, he had charge of more than 400 chemical warfare specialists who were responsible for defending over 15,000 soldiers with the 2nd Armored Division from the threat of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attack; and

WHEREAS, After retiring from the army, Colonel Hess began working as an environmental strategic planner and manager with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, where his leadership skills and military training were highly valued; in 2003, he accepted the challenge of helping to launch a new state agency, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists; named executive director of the TBPG, he devoted countless hours to getting the agency up and running and to ensuring that more than 6,700 applications for a license to practice geoscience in the state were accurately processed; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, Colonel Hess again answered his nation's call when he returned to active duty with the army; this esteemed officer served two tours of duty in Iraq and worked extensively with the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; he completed his service and reentered civilian life in July 2010, returning to his position as head of the TBPG; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Michael Hess also holds a master's degree in management from Webster University and a master's degree in history from the University of Kansas; in 2003 he completed a master's degree in education administration at Texas State University; and

WHEREAS, Among the many decorations and awards conferred on Colonel Hess by the army are the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and two Army Achievement Medals; moreover, for his service with the Texas Military Forces, he has received two State of Texas Lone Star Distinguished Service Medals; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Hess is the proud father of a daughter, Lindsey Shoob, and a son, Captain Michael Hess, who is currently deployed in Afghanistan on his third combat tour; he has also been blessed with a grandchild, Jordan; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Hess has contributed immeasurably to advancing the mission of every organization of which he has been a part, and his exemplary efforts in behalf of this state and nation are indeed deserving of his fellow citizens' deep respect and gratitude; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby honor Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Hess for his outstanding public service and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success in all his endeavors; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Lieutenant Colonel Hess as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Carter

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1471 was adopted by the House on May 5, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House