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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL GUARD MAJOR MIKE

MANNING FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR STATE AND NATION, AND WISHING HIM

WELL IN HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

     Introduced By: Representatives Fox, Mattiello, Newberry, Azzinaro, and Gallison

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Major Mike Manning of the Rhode Island National Guard is a Distinguished

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Military Graduate of Providence College’s ROTC class of 1997. Upon being commissioned as an

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Infantry Officer and after completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Major Manning was

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assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and was forward

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deployed to the Republic of Germany. During his time with the 1-26, Major Manning served in

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the capacity of Assistant Operations Officer and Platoon Leader. In June of 1999, Major Manning

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deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian II. While in Kosovo, Major Manning

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was reassigned to E Troop, 4th US Cavalry as a Brigade Reconnaissance Troop Leader for Task

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Force Falcon; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2000, Major Manning separated from active duty and transferred to the

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Rhode Island National Guard in May of 2000. Major Manning pursued civilian interests from

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2000 to late 2003, while also maintaining his military career in a traditional capacity with the

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Rhode Island National Guard, serving with the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Mountain Infantry as a Scout

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Platoon Leader, and later serving as Executive Officer with the 173rd Infantry Detachment (Long

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Range Surveillance), 42nd Infantry Division, and as appointed Commander of the 173rd LRS; and

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     WHEREAS, In early 2004, Major Manning returned to active duty with the Rhode Island

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National Guard and was appointed as a Recruiting and Retention Specialist, while also continuing

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to serve as the Commander of the 173rd LRS in a traditional capacity. In July of 2004, Major

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Manning and the 173rd LRS was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, where

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Major Manning led his unit in a highly successful deployment during a critical time in Iraq,

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bringing his unit back with no casualties. For his efforts, he was awarded the Bronze Star; and

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     WHEREAS, In March of 2006, Major Manning relinquished command of the 173rd LRS

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and was assigned to Joint Force Headquarters, Rhode Island National Guard, as the state’s first

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State Partnership Program (SPP) Coordinator. Major Manning worked in the capacity of SPP

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Coordinator for two years. During his tenure as the state’s SSP Coordinator, Major Manning was

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instrumental in leveraging multiple civilian-to-civilian and military-to-civilian initiatives to the

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benefit of Rhode Island’s sister-country, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; and

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     WHEREAS, In October of 2007, Major Manning was reassigned as Operations Officer

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with Special Operations Detachment-Global (SOD-G). Subsequently, he deployed with the SOD

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in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Caribbean and Central America, and was assigned to

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Special Operations Command South. While deployed, Major Manning served as the Deputy

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Chief for the Regional Engagement Branch responsible for the Caribbean and Central America;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Upon returning from deployment in March of 2009, Major Manning was

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selected to attend the College of Naval Command and Staff at the U.S. Naval War College. At the

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same time, Major Manning screened for and was selected by the U.S. Naval War College for

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enrollment in the Maritime Advanced War-Fighting School. In June of 2010, Major Manning

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graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval War College with a Master of Arts degree in

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National Security and Strategic Studies; and

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     WHEREAS, Upon graduation, Major Manning was assigned to the Joint Forces

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Headquarters of the Rhode Island National Guard as the Legislative Liaison and Plans Officer

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and he continues to serve in this capacity. As the Legislative Liaison, Major Manning works

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closely with Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation concerning national and strategic level

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initiatives impacting the Rhode Island National Guard. Further, he works with the Governor’s

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office and the state legislature in Rhode Island with respect to state and local requirements

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involving the Rhode Island National Guard; and

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     WHEREAS, Major Manning is also a graduate of the Leadership in Homeland Security

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Course at Harvard University, the Military Assistance Course, Naval Command and Staff

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College, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Defense

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Support of Civil Authorities Course, Foreign Area Officer Course, Infantry Captains Career

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Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Joint Fire Power Course, Sniper Employment Officer

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Course, US Army Jump Master Course, Scout Platoon Leader’s Course, Bradley Leader’s

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Course, US Army Ranger School and US Army Airborne School; and

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     WHEREAS, Major Manning is married to Meg and they have three teenage children.

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Major Manning is slated to deploy to Afghanistan in the near future. He will serve as an instructor

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for the Afghan National Army’s Commando Forces; now, therefore be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby thanks Major Manning for his many years of distinguished service

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to our nation and the citizens of Rhode Island. We wish him well on his forthcoming deployment

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to Afghanistan; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Major Mike Manning.

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