Retirement Speech for Colonel Spellissy – Given by Dr. Uhler, AE 27 August 2004

Colonel Spellissy was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Queens, New York and in Clearwater, Florida. He graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic High School in May 1975 where he was a Florida Allstate Basketball Player and a Basketball-Academic All-American. He entered the United States Military Academy in July 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1979 – I hear that he was the model Cadet! After graduation Tom went on leave for 30 days and reported to Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia to start his Army career. After successful completion of Ranger School he headed west to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Following completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in February 1980, he reported to the 6^th Battalion, 33d Field Artillery, III Armored Corps Artillery, Fort Sill. He served as a firing platoon leader and battery executive officer for Battery A. In December 1981, he was assigned as the battalion adjutant. He then returned to Battery A and commanded the unit from November 1982 to February 1984. Tom was selected to Battery Command when he was a 1^st Lieutenant – selection for a firing battery command are normally filled by Captains. As a successful commander, Tom was selected by the Field Artillery to attend the Infantry Officer Advanced Course.

COL Spellissy graduated from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning, Georgia in December 1984. After graduation, he reported to the 1^st Battalion, 94^th Field Artillery (Composite 8-inch/MLRS), 1^st Armored Division, Germany in March 1985. When he arrived in Germany and was interviewed by his battalion commander, he was asked what job he wanted – he said “give me the job where you have the most problems – the battalion had failed an Inspector General Maintenance Inspection – the battalion commander removed the current Battalion Motor Officer and gave the job to Tom. He passed the re-inspection in less than 90 days and served as the battalion motor officer until November 1986. He was then hand-selected by the Division Artillery Commander to take a rare second battery command. He took command of Battery C (Multiple Launch Rocket System), at Erlangen, Germany – the Division’s only Rocket Battery. Under his command, Battery C became the first separate MLRS battery under division artillery control. His battery was re-designated as Battery A, 94^th Field Artillery (MLRS). Under his leadership this battery won and/or achieved almost every unit award that a company sized unit could attain in 1^st Armored Division. One of these achievements includes having the highest operational readiness rate for Multiple Launch Rocket Launchers of any operational unit in the Army.

COL Spellissy received a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado in June 1990. He then graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in June 1991.

After Command and General Staff College COL Spellissy was hand-picked as a junior Major to serve in as the lead Ground Military Analyst, Combat Analysis Group at the United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from June 1991 to August 1993. His analysis was used for the Army’s Bottom-Up Review and he modeled and designed the Kuwaiti and Saudi Army Force Structure. Tom’s tour ended early at CENTCOM and was given 30 days to report from the CENTCOM AOR to the 1^st Battalion, 8^th Field Artillery (155mm-T), 25^th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in September 1993. Again, he took a job in a unit with significant problems- the unit had been placed in a non-deployable status due to readiness. In less than 120 days the unit was rated as deployable due to Tom’s reorganization of the Battalion Operations Center and his revamped battalion training plan. He was assigned then assigned as the battalion executive officer. At the end of Tom’s tour his unit went from the worst unit in the Division to one of the Division’s top four units.

In May 1995, Tom’s unit returned from deployment and he was he notified to move in less than 45 days! Tom was again hand picked to lead a joint service, selectively manned staff at the United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Tom’s Studies and Analysis Branch directly supported our Nation’s Arms Control Team, he produced our Nation’s Nuclear Stockpile Memorandum and he had it signed by the President Clinton in 1996, and he and his staff also provided all the analysis (120 options) to the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Perry for the START III Treaty.

In 1997 time was selected for Battalion Command and took charge of his battalion, 2^nd Battalion, 4^th Field Artillery (MLRS), at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from June 1997 to June 1999. His unit dominated all areas of measured excellence and competitions in a five battalion brigade and was rated number 1 of 12 for Combat Readiness!

After Battalion Command, he by name requested and reassigned to the United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to serve as the Chief, Developmental Test and Evaluation/Foreign Comparative Test, Acquisition and Logistics Center. Tom, quickly took charge of the Foreign Comparative Test Program and within a year he formally commended twice by the Director, Strategic and Tactical Systems, Office of the Secretary of Defense, he was also commended by two Senior Leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee for his outstanding work. USSOCOM’s Foreign Comparative Test Program quadrupled in funding ($2M to $8M). His program was recognized as the best Foreign Comparative Test Program in the Department of Defense. Lastly, he also awarded a Defense Acquisition Executive Certificate for Acquisition Excellence. As a result of his performance, Mr. Schulte and General Holland asked him to stay here to become the Program Executive Officer, Special Programs. Tom unselfishly gave up career as a Field Artillery Officer and a fellowship to Harvard and became an Acquisition Officer to lead the most demanding Program Executive Office in this command. His contributions to our Soldiers, Airmen and SEALS during Operation’s Enduring and Iraqi Freedom are significant. His office has arguably fielded more new and improved types of equipment than any other Program Executive Office in the Department of Defense. Our National Force continues to be the most premier force in the world because of the acquisition work of Tom’s office. There are several documented accounts where equipment fielded under his direct authority has saved the lives of members of our force during this Global War on Terrorism. He has been inducted as an Honorary Member of the 75^th Ranger Regiment – a recognition achieved by only a few people. Tom is truly the Operator’s Program Executive Officer! Under his leadership, his office has also won the David Packard Award for Acquisition Excellence – this is the highest award for Acquisition in the Department of Defense. I can go on and on with more accolades, however, I am confident you get the picture that this officer accepts nothing but a standard of excellence. Tom never sought out any publicity for all the accomplishments that he and his Program Executive Office have achieved. He acknowledges his satisfaction by keeping our units the best in the world – he truly epitomizes the Quiet Professional. Tom best of luck to you and your family in the future and on behalf of all members of the U.S Army and the United States Special Operations Command – thank you for your outstanding service to our nation.