2019 -- H 6146

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING BRIGADIER GENERAL STEVE GILLAND,

COMMANDANT OF CADETS, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST

POINT, FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION WHICH

RESULTED IN THE GRADUATION OF THE LARGEST NUMBER OF AFRICAN-

AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE HISTORY OF WEST POINT

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Lima, Kazarian, and
Casimiro

     Date Introduced: May 23, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy is head

of the Department of Tactics and, under the Superintendent, is responsible for the administration

and military training of all cadets at the Academy. To assume this important position, an Officer

must be a West Point graduate of unblemished character with a record of both academic

excellence and numerous accomplishments in their active duty responsibilities; and

     WHEREAS, In 2017, Brigadier General Steve Gilland was selected to be the 77th

Commandant of the United States Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy at West

Point. General Gilland is a distinguished 1990 West Point graduate. As an Infantry Officer,

General Gilland served in numerous tactical assignments including Air Assault, Mechanized

Infantry, Armor, Rangers and Special Operations units. General Gilland also served as the

Commander at multiple levels of the United States Army and served our nation with valor and

honor in deployments to the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, General Gilland holds numerous military decorations including the Legion

of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the

Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster,

the Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal

with V Device, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with

three Oak Leaf Clusters; and

     WHEREAS, Thanks to General Gilland’s strong and passionate support for diversity and

inclusion, and the astute leadership he provided in implementing policies to accomplish these

goals, in 2019 the United States Military Academy will graduate its most diverse class by race

and gender in its illustrious history. Most notably, thirty-four African-American women will be

graduating in the class of 2019. General Gilland and the leadership of our armed forces know that

a diverse military makes our nation stronger, more united, and better able to face whatever

foreign threats our great nation may face; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks United States Military Commandment of

Cadets, Brigadier General Steve Gilland for his brave and meritorious service to our nation, and

for his passion and support of policies that have dramatically broadened the diversity of West

Point’s 2019 graduating class; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Brigadier General Steve Gilland, Commandant

of Cadets, United States Military Academy.

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