[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING A TRULY OUTSTANDING LEADER, CAPTAIN STEVEN POULIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
outstanding, dedicated service of Captain Steven D. Poulin, USGC, 
Commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Alabama, from 2009 to 2010. 
Coast Guard Sector Mobile is one of the largest operations commands in 
the Coast Guard and is home to 750 personnel and 50 cutters and other 
vessels.
  On July 9, 2010, Captain Poulin left the command of the USGC station 
in Mobile to assume sole duties as local incident commander for the 
Unified Command. In this capacity, Captain Poulin continues to marshal 
Coast Guard resources in the federal response to the Deepwater Horizon 
oil spill, which has been such an economic and environmental challenge 
to America's Gulf Coast since the explosion occurred on April 20.
  Specifically, Captain Poulin has led the relief effort along coastal 
Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle.
  During his command of Sector Mobile, Captain Poulin demonstrated a 
level of professionalism and dedication to duty in keeping with the 
finest traditions of the Coast Guard. He was not only the leader of an 
important local defense installation, but also a visible and respected 
member of our community.
  In fact, Captain Poulin has been a welcome presence in South Alabama 
for many years. Prior to assuming the command of Sector Mobile, he 
served in Mobile during earlier assignments as Deputy Commander, from 
2007 to 2009, and as Law Enforcement Officer and Assistant Operations 
Officer from 1986 to 1989.
  Captain Poulin's extensive service record also includes assignments 
as Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Group Galveston, Texas, from 
1996 to 1999, and Special Adviser for Border and Transportation 
Security for Vice President Richard Cheney from 2005 to 2007. From 2003 
to 2005, he was Coast Guard liaison to the State Department's Office of 
Oceans Affairs. He also served as Legal Counsel for the Coast Guard's 
Port Security Director from 2002 to 2003, and Legislative Counsel in 
the Coast Guard's Office of Congressional Affairs from 1999 to 2001.
  A 1984 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Captain Poulin was 
awarded his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Miami School of Law 
in 1992.
  Although he will soon be leaving the Mobile area for a new 
assignment, he will continue to use his tremendous skills and 
dedication to country as the Coast Guard's new director of 
Congressional Affairs in Washington.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of South Alabama, I wish to 
thank Captain Poulin for a job well done. Furthermore, I offer our 
heartfelt gratitude to his wonderful wife, Sherry, and their two 
children, Steven and Erin, for the sacrifices they have made as a 
family while their husband and father has admirably served his country 
with such distinction.

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