THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

             PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES PHILLIP R. ANDERSON 
            AS MEMBER OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION

The President today announced his intent to nominate Phillip R. Anderson to serve as a Member of the Mississippi River Commission.

Mr. Phillip R. Anderson of Missouri is currently serving as the Commanding General of the United States Army Engineer Division, Mississippi Valley, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. From 1996 to 1997, he was the Director of Military Programs, United States Army Corps of Engineers. Major General Anderson was the Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant of the United States Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri from 1994 to 1995. From June 1995 to November 1995, he was the Commanding General of the United States Support Group in Haiti as well as the Deputy Commanding General for the United States forces in Haiti. From 1993 to 1994, he was the Chief of Staff for the United States Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood. Major General Anderson served as the Commander of the 36th Combat Engineer Group from 1991 to 1993, including January 1993 to March 1993 in Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia. He is a decorated veteran, receiving the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. Major General Anderson received his B.S. from Virginia Military Institute, his M.S. from University of Illinois in Civil Engineering, and his M.A. in International Relations from Salve Regina College.

Since the flood of 1928, the primary function of the Mississippi River Commission has been to implement, construct and operate the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project. This project involves the development and execution of a flood protection program comprised of levee construction, river dredging and water distribution.

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