[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MICHAEL PENALUNA

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                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2020

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
achievements of Michael Penaluna, Emergency Management Coordinator for 
the City of Denton, Texas. Mr. Penaluna is retiring after serving the 
public for over thirty years.
  Penaluna began his education at North Central Texas College, where he 
earned his Associate of Science degree and training as an Emergency 
Medical Technician. He served an internship with the City of Bowie and 
received his Bachelor of Science degree in Crisis/Emergency/Disaster 
Management from the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1988. This 
milestone was the foundation for two of his lifelong professional 
passions: Emergency Management and the University of North Texas. His 
first position in this field was with the Caddo-Bossier Office of 
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Shreveport, Louisiana. 
During his fifteen year tenure with this department, he rose to the 
position of Assistant Director, served as President of the Louisiana 
Emergency Preparedness Association, and earned a Masters degree at 
Louisiana Baptist University & Theological Seminary.
  The second chapter in Penaluna's career began in 2004, when he 
becamed the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Denton. 
Over the next fifteen years, he was instrumental in broadening and 
strengthening the city's Emergency Management Program. Penaluna is 
well-respected by his peers, and he has served as Chair of the Denton 
Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the North 
Central Texas Council of Government's Emergency Management Working 
Group. He has been a sought after guest lecturer at UNT and Texas 
Woman's University.
  Penaluna has been an esteemed mentor and intern supervisor for many 
students over the years who are now his professional colleagues. In 
2015, he was recognized by UNT as the Outstanding Alumnus in Emegency 
Administration & Planning. Penaluna's legacy will continue to shine 
brightly as his namesake Michael A. Penaluna Endowed Scholarship in 
Emergency Administration & Planning at UNT will afford many more 
students the opportunity to train for the profession he holds so dear.
  Throughout his career, Michael Penaluna dedicated over three decades 
of his life to public service. His expertise and leadership will be 
sorely missed not only by the citizens of Denton, but also by his 
colleagues across Texas and beyond. He has truly been an outstanding 
public servant, and on behalf of the 26th District, I wish him all the 
best in retirement.

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