[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE OF CAPTAIN THOMAS H. FARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2011

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career 
of Captain Thomas H. Farris on the occasion of his retirement from the 
United States Coast Guard (USCG). I offer Captain Farris my sincerest 
thanks for his 30 years of dedicated service in protecting our nation 
and safeguarding its future.
  An accomplished aviator, Captain Farris possesses over 6700 hours of 
flight time in six different aircraft throughout his 30 years of 
service as a veteran of the U.S. Army and USCG. He most recently served 
as the Coast Guard's Chief of Aviation Safety. In that capacity he was 
responsible for the USCG Aviation Safety program and one of only three 
senior aviators exercising program level oversight over the design, 
development, implementation, delivery and sustainment of all USCG 
aviation programs.
  Captain Farris has distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of 
leadership. Among his many achievements, Captain Farris won the U.S. 
Army's European Helicopter Championship early in his career along with 
18 shipboard deployments and extensive airborne Law Enforcement 
experience in the North Atlantic, Caribbean and Eastern Pacific 
theatres.
  Captain Farris' service in his current position as the USCG Captain 
of the Port of San Diego is the capstone to his military career. As the 
Coast Guard Captain for San Diego, he is responsible for the safe 
conduct of commercial maritime activity on all federally navigable 
waterways within an area that extends from 200 nautical miles offshore 
San Diego then east to the Colorado River from the Mexico border to 
Utah.
  Along with his many roles and responsibilities, Captain Farris serves 
as the designated Federal Maritime Security Coordinator and Chair of 
the Area Maritime Security Committee overseeing commercial vessel and 
facilities compliance with the Maritime Transportation Security Act. He 
also serves as the Operational Commander for the USCG air and surface 
force carrying out Search and Rescue and Maritime law enforcement 
authority. Additionally, Captain Farris plays a pivotal role as the 
Senior Officer Ashore in San Diego as the primary local USCG 
representative to the San Diego County military, federal and civilian 
community.
  As he enters this new stage of his life, I hope that Captain Farris 
will benefit from his years of work, just as the United States Military 
has benefited. I offer him my warmest congratulations and may he enjoy 
a rewarding retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to please join me in honoring all the brave 
men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and 
the admirable service of Captain Thomas Farris.

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