[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1385-E1386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING NAVY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LAWRENCE E. WESTERLUND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of United 
States Navy Lieutenant Commander Lawrence E. Westerlund and to 
congratulate him on his upcoming retirement from the U.S. Navy, 
following 20 years of active and reserve service.
  Lieutenant Commander Westerlund, a native of Fresno, California, 
entered the U.S. Navy through Officer Candidate School, Class 8809, in 
Newport, Rhode Island shortly after graduating from California 
Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. He was 
commissioned an Ensign on November 18, 1988, with his father, Richard 
Westerlund, and brother, Midshipman Lance Westerlund, in attendance.
  After graduation from Surface Warfare Officer School in Coronado, 
California, he reported aboard the USS Mahon S. Tisdale (FFG-27), where 
he was assigned the position of First Lieutenant and also served as 
Helicopter Control Officer. He served two years aboard the USS Tisdale, 
earning his Surface Warfare Pin and deploying to Japan and Korea in 
support of PACEX89.
  In 1990, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund was promoted to Lieutenant 
Junior Grade. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserves and became the 
Administrative Officer for the USS Worden (CG-18) naval reserve 
detachment based in Fresno, California.
  From 1991 through 1994, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund served as a 
Convoy Officer for the Convoy Command Detachment in Seattle, 
Washington. In September of 1994, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund 
reported for duty with Mobile Inshore Underwater Warfare Units 103 and 
104, where he served as a Division Officer and Department Head. He 
served multiple training periods in Korea and Bahrain with these two 
units.
  In June 1997, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund was awarded the Navy 
and Marine Corp Achievement Medal while serving as the Physical 
Security Officer during Overseas Operations in Manama, Bahrain, where 
he was tasked with establishing waterside security watch to counter 
terrorist threats.
  Lieutenant Commander Westerlund was recalled to active duty in April 
of 1998 for one year in support of stabilization operations in Bosnia. 
During this assignment, he was instrumental in writing a major force 
structure study for the US-European Command (EUCOM). While serving for 
the EUCOM, he was awarded his first Defense Commendation Medal and NATO 
Operations Medal. Shortly after returning from Bosnia, Lieutenant 
Commander Westerlund transferred to the Inactive Ready Reserve.
  As a result of the attacks on the United States on September 11, 
2001, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund returned to active drilling 
status. He was assigned to Commander Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) Det-520 
in Sacramento, California--a capacity in which he served as the head of 
various divisions and departments.
  In 2004, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund ran a successful election 
campaign for a seat on the Fresno City Council. Before taking office, 
Lieutenant Commander Westerlund returned to active duty for six months 
standing the Battle Watch for COMPACFLT. In January 2005, Lieutenant 
Commander Westerlund was sworn in as the District Four Representative 
for the Fresno City Council. During this time, he continued to drill in 
Sacramento for COMPACFLT Det-520.
  Lieutenant Commander Westerlund was recalled to active duty in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007. He served from April 
2008 to May 2009 as the Counterterrorism Train and Equip Manager for 
the Joint Special Operations Task Force for the Tran-Sahara for the 
U.S. European Special Operations Command (SOCEUR) and Africa Special 
Operations Command (SOCAFRICA). For

[[Page E1386]]

his service, he was awarded his second Defense Commendation Medal.
  In December of 2009, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund became the 
Officer in Charge (OIC) of the 38 sailors of the Military Sealift 
Command Cargo Afloat Rigging Team III, Detachment C based out of 
Lemoore, California. While serving as OIC, he was deployed twice 
onboard the USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200).
  Lieutenant Commander Westerlund is married to Dora Rivera of 
Mazatlan, Mexico. While deployed overseas in Operation Enduring 
Freedom, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund was reelected to the Fresno 
City Council, and his first child, Zoe, was born. Lieutenant Commander 
Westerlund and his wife recently welcomed their second child--a son 
named William.
  On August 11, 2012, Lieutenant Commander Westerlund will retire from 
the United States Navy after 20 years of honorable military service. 
Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Lieutenant Commander Lawrence 
E. Westerlund for his outstanding career. He is a true public servant. 
I congratulate him on his retirement, and wish him the best of success 
in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________