SLS 15RS-3052 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 130
BY SENATOR JOHNS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Paul Rainwater upon his retirement from the United
States Army and for his accomplishments.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Colonel Paul Rainwater upon his retirement from the United States Army and
3 for his accomplishments.
4 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater retired from the United States Army on June 1,
5 2015, after serving twenty-five years in the Armed Forces of the United States, including
6 eight years in the National Guard; and
7 WHEREAS, he has acquired several notable accolades during his service to include:
8 the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Department of Defense Joint
9 Service Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and his unit was awarded the Joint
10 Meritorious Unit Award; and
11 WHEREAS, most recently the President of the United States awarded Colonel
12 Rainwater with the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service to the Louisiana
13 Army National Guard, culminating as the Strategic Plans Officer; and
14 WHEREAS, he has distinguished himself with consistent and faithful service to his
15 state and nation, including selection for critical planning coordination and leadership
16 positions that have directly influenced the safety and security of the citizens of Louisiana;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater has made immense contributions to state and local
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SLS 15RS-3052 ORIGINAL
1 government; and
2 WHEREAS, he most recently held the title of Chief of Staff under Governor Jindal's
3 administration, resigned in February of 2014 to pursue a career in the private sector; and
4 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater also served as Commissioner of Administration and
5 as Deputy Chief of Staff under Governor Jindal; and
6 WHEREAS, prior to his work within the Governor's office, he served as Executive
7 Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) where he served as the authorized
8 representative to the White House special advisory for hurricane recovery, Federal
9 Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Housing and Urban and Development
10 Disaster Recovery Office; and
11 WHEREAS, on multiple occasions Colonel Rainwater has provided leadership and
12 on-site situational awareness to the Governor and the Adjutant General of the State during
13 hurricanes Gustav, Ike, Issac, and the BP Oil spill; and
14 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater also served as Legislative Director and Chief of
15 Operations for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu; and
16 WHEREAS, from June 2006 to January 2007, he served as Director of Hazard
17 Mitigation and Intergovernmental Affairs at the LRA, where he managed program policies,
18 served as team leader, and coordinated with state and federal agencies to set mitigation
19 priorities; and
20 WHEREAS, from July 2000 to June 2006, Colonel Rainwater served as the Chief
21 Administrative Officer for the city of Lake Charles; and
22 WHEREAS, he also formerly served as manager of governmental affairs for Conoco,
23 Inc., Gulf Coast Business Unit in Baton Rouge from June 1998 to July 2000; as manager of
24 public affairs for ARCO Chemical in Lake Charles from 1995 to May 1998; and as
25 administrative aide to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in Lake Charles from 1988 to 1996;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, in addition to his public service duties, Rainwater also served as a
28 colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard in the Joint Director of Military Support
29 for Disaster Response Unit, and prior to that, served as a lieutenant colonel in the
30 Congressional Liaison Office of the Louisiana Army National Guard and as a lieutenant
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SLS 15RS-3052 ORIGINAL
1 colonel in the United States Army Reserves working in the Operational Planning Cell of 3rd
2 Army Headquarters, setting up finance operations in Afghanistan, and working as a civil
3 affairs planning officer during Operation Enduring Freedom; and
4 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater was part of the Early Entry Module forces deployed
5 after September 11, 2001; and
6 WHEREAS, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Colonel Rainwater served as the
7 Deputy Adjutant for Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he managed casualty operations,
8 replacement operations, special projects, and planned and executed the largest surge
9 operation since World War II; and
10 WHEREAS, Colonel Rainwater earned a bachelor's degree in government from
11 McNeese State University in Lake Charles, a master's degree in international relations from
12 Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, and is certified as a local government manager by
13 Louisiana State University; and
14 WHEREAS, his career exemplifies a true commitment to the armed forces, state
15 government, and the citizens of the state of Louisiana and the freedoms expressed by the
16 United States of America.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18 commend Colonel Paul Rainwater upon his retirement from the United States Army and for
19 his numerous impressive accomplishments.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
21 Colonel Paul Rainwater.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by J. Ashley Mitchell Carter.
DIGEST
SCR 130 Original 2015 Regular Session Johns
Commends Colonel Paul Rainwater upon his retirement from the United States Army and
for his numerous impressive accomplishments.
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