LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Brigadier General William E. Rapp upon
the occasion of his selection as Deputy Commander of Support for United
States Forces in Afghanistan

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's
freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace In peace-
time, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Brigadier
General William E. Rapp upon the occasion of his selection as Deputy
Commander of Support for United States Forces in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp graduated from the United
States Military Academy in 1984 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the Corps of Engineers; his civilian education includes a Bachelor of
Science degree from USMA, a Masters of Arts in Political Science, and a
PhD in International Relations from Stanford University; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp's military education
includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced
Course, US Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College
where he earned a Masters of Arts in National Security Policy, and the
Joint Forces Staff College; he was the distinguished honor graduate of
his Infantry Officer Advance Course, Ranger School class, Jumpmaster
class, and the Strategist Program at CGSC; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp is a licensed Professional
Engineer in the state of Virginia; his early assignments included duties
as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Assistant S3, and the Corps
Operations Officer in Germany and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; he also
commanded an airborne engineer company during Operation Desert Storm;
and
WHEREAS, Following graduate school, Brigadier General William E. Rapp
served as an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of
Social Sciences at USMA and as an Engineer Battalion S3 and Group S3 at
Fort Lewis, Washington; he also served as the Military Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) before commanding the 54th Engineer
Battalion (Combat) (Mech) in Bamberg, Germany; and
WHEREAS, After his command, Brigadier General William E. Rapp was
selected for the Council of Foreign Relations Fellowship at the Insti-
tute for International Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp returned to the United
States in the summer of 2003, to attend the Army War College before
proceeding to Fort Lewis to serve as the Chief of Plans (G3) for I Corps
Headquarters; in June 2005, he assumed command of 555th Combat Engineer
Group and deployed in support of the 101st Airborne Division for Opera-
tion Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Brigadier General William E. Rapp completed his
command and returned to Iraq as the Director of the Commander's Initi-
atives Group serving under General Petraeus in Multi-National Forces-
Iraq; in his most recent assignment, he served as the Commanding General
of the Northwestern Division of the Corps of Engineers in Portland,
Oregon; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp returned to the United
States Military Academy to assume command of the United States Corps of
Cadets as the 72nd Commandant of Cadets in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General William E. Rapp's awards and decorations
include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak
leaf cluster, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service
Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with

two oak leaf clusters; he has earned the Combat Action Badge, Master
Parachutist wings, Air Assault wings, Ranger Tab, and the Engineer Regi-
ment's Silver DeFleury Medal; and
WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Brigadier General William E. Rapp has demonstrated his love for his
country and merits forevermore, the highest respect of his State and
Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Brigadier General William E. Rapp upon the occasion of his
selection as Deputy Commander of Support for United States Forces in
Afghanistan; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brigadier General William E. Rapp.