[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL A. SPRAYBERRY

 Mr. TILLIS. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael 
A. Sprayberry, who is retiring as director of the North Carolina 
Division of Emergency Management, NCEM, and the North Carolina Office 
of Recovery and Resiliency, NCORR. Mr. Sprayberry has served North 
Carolina for over 42 years and has exemplified the highest standard of 
leadership, effectiveness, and professionalism, and I thank him for his 
valued service to our State.
  Mr. Sprayberry was born in Atlanta, GA and moved to North Carolina in 
high school. He went on to serve our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps 
and in the North Carolina National Guard for 11 years. In 1979, Mike 
received his bachelor of science in business administration from the 
University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He continued his education 
and received his master of arts degree in history.
  Mike's entire career has been in service to his country and the Sate. 
During his years of service with the National Guard, he was awarded the 
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters and the 
North Carolina National Guard Distinguished Service Medal. He received 
the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1998 and was inducted into the North 
Carolina National Guard's Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 
August of 2011.
  In 2005, Director Sprayberry began his career in emergency management 
as the deputy director and logistics chief. He served in this capacity 
until 2013, when he was appointed to serve as director under Governor 
Pat McCrory.
  Mr. Sprayberry is the longest serving emergency management director 
in North Carolina's history. During his tenure, he successfully oversaw 
the State's response to 19 State declared disasters and 11 federally 
declared disasters. He has led North Carolina through hurricanes, 
earthquakes, winter storms, and a pandemic.
  Mr. Sprayberry is nationally respected and has served as president of 
the National Emergency Management Association and is a member of the 
FEMA National Advisory Council.
  Mr. President, thanks to Mike's leadership, North Carolina is better 
prepared to deal with both natural and man-made disasters. Please join 
me in thanking Director Mike Sprayberry, his wife, and his daughters 
for his career in public service and wishing him a joyful 
retirement.

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