[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 105 (Monday, June 8, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2761-S2762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN D. DWYER

 Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, Mr. John Dwyer has 
distinguishably served the U.S. Coast Guard and our Nation for more 
than 43 years, on Active Duty, in the Coast Guard reserves, and as a 
long-time Coast Guard civilian serving in Seattle, WA.
  John earned his bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University in 1976 and 
was selected shortly thereafter to attend Coast Guard Officer Candidate 
School. Upon his graduation in 1977, he was commissioned as an Active-
Duty officer in the Coast Guard. In 1985, he transitioned to the Coast 
Guard reserves, where he continued to advance until retiring as a 
captain in 2005, while serving as the Pacific Area Reserve Chief of 
Staff. During this time, John also earned his master's degree from the 
University of Washington, School of Marine Affairs, in 2004 and became 
a Department of Homeland Security senior fellow. Concurrent with his 
Reserve status, John began his service as a Coast Guard civilian 
employee in 1986, allowing him to focus his expertise on the Puget 
Sound region and serve as an invaluable source of knowledge and 
continuity for the rotating Coast Guard personnel. Ultimately, he 
advanced to serve as the officer in charge, marine inspection and the 
chief of the Inspection Division at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget 
Sound. In this important role, John was responsible for ensuring the 
safety, environmental protection, and security standards for commercial 
vessels and waterfront facilities throughout Puget Sound, as well as 
the navigable waters of Washington State and Montana.
  Throughout his service while in uniform, John was repeatedly 
recognized for actions that increased safety in the maritime industry. 
As early as 1977, as a young lieutenant, John improved the safety of 
the vital North Pacific maritime industry as he helped establish an 
uninspected vessel examination program in the Coast Guard's 17th 
district. The processes he established were smoothly transitioned from 
the district offices to a new field unit, the Marine Safety Office in 
Anchorage, AK. He was recognized in the early 1990s as commanding 
officer of the Reserve unit in Tacoma, WA, where John systematically 
found meaningful ways to increase reserve member participation in 
marine safety inspections, which had traditionally been conducted by 
Active-Duty members. By enhancing the role for reservists in marine 
inspections, John improved the safety of people in the commercial 
fishing and maritime industries, while also boosting the efficiency of 
the Coast Guard.
  During his years of public service, John directly contributed to the 
maritime safety and security of our Nation. John's direct oversight 
ensured the seamless flow of maritime commerce, including the 
transportation of almost 24 million passengers per year on the 
Washington State ferries, the largest ferry system in the United 
States. He led the effort to create the region's first multiagency 
maritime security team that was responsible for the security of the 
expansive international maritime border between the United States and 
Canada. This successful program was adopted and became a best practice 
throughout the Nation. John was also directly involved in ensuring the 
safety of commercial fishing vessels in the North Pacific and Bering 
Sea fisheries, worth more than $4 billion annually. His work with the 
fishing community undoubtedly saved lives and resulted in John becoming 
the standard-bearer for fishing vessel safety to Coast Guard members, 
fishermen, and policymakers across the Nation.
  Above his exemplary execution of Coast Guard mission requirements, 
John left his mark as a skilled and thoughtful mentor. John served as a 
patient teacher and remarkable mentor for thousands of Coast Guard 
personnel. He generously shared his 43 years of maritime experience in 
vessel inspections, port security, waterfront

[[Page S2762]]

facility inspections, mariner licensing, casualty investigations, and 
marine disaster and firefighting response to train the next generation 
of leaders within the Coast Guard's Marine Safety program. His 
leadership and commitment to the professional development of others 
made an incredible impact on more than 1,200 Coast Guard junior 
officers and enlisted members, many of whom are now serving as 
executive level leaders in the Coast Guard and throughout the Federal 
Government. His mentees include a member of the Senior Executive 
Service, three Coast Guard flag officers, 10 Coast Guard captains of 
the Port, and several enlisted members who are now serving in 
successful leadership roles in government and private industry.
  During my time on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, I have had the benefit of working with a number of 
Coast Guard members that had been mentored by John. John trained them 
well. Without a doubt, these members have left their mark on multiple 
Coast Guard authorization bills that have been signed into law with 
meaningful improvements to maritime safety and environmental protection 
at the national level. I am personally grateful to have had the 
opportunity to work with so many members who were mentored by John, and 
I am sure that, after John retires, I will continue to learn from those 
he influenced over his long career.
  John also served as an influential leader within Puget Sound's 
maritime community. In the wake of the tragedy of September 11th, he 
played a key role in Puget Sound as the Coast Guard implemented the 
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. He served as the head of 
the vessel security and Washington State ferries security sub-
committees within the Puget Sound Maritime Security Committee and 
played a critical advisory role in Puget Sound's Harbor Safety 
Committee. He was always available to provide advice on maritime topics 
and was frequently invited to speak at maritime events. In recognition 
of his tremendous impact, the Seattle Propeller Club named John as its 
Public Official of the Year in 2013 and the Puget Sound Port Maritime 
Council recognized him as its Maritime Person of the Year in 2017.
  John's actions and decisions were always in the best interest of the 
public in which he selflessly and tirelessly served as he worked to 
ensure the safety, security, and environmental protection of Washington 
State and the pristine waters of Puget Sound. He will be missed, but 
his legacy of service and those he trained will live on. I thank John 
Dwyer for his selfless service to the United States Coast Guard, the 
entire Pacific Northwest, and our Nation.

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