[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING CAPTAIN TIMOTHY CRONIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN H. RUTHERFORD

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2021

  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I have the honor of serving Florida's 
First Coast, with a constituency filled with our nation's heroes. It is 
my distinct privilege to rise today and speak about one of my own Coast 
Guard constituents, Captain Timothy Cronin.
  Captain Cronin currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the 
National Security Cutter Hamilton in North Charleston, South Carolina, 
and has served his country with distinction for 25 years. On July 23rd 
of this year, he retires and returns home to his wife Kristan and 
children Kaleigh, Connor, Cooper, Parker and Davis.
  Since the Coast Guard's founding in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton, 
Americans have relied on our guardsmen to protect our nation's maritime 
interests. The Coast Guard has secured our sovereignty in times of war 
and peace, and safeguarded the American public during times of national 
catastrophe.
  Captain Tim Cronin has served on six cutters, commanding three of 
them. He departs the service after leading the great crew of the Coast 
Guard Cutter Hamilton--a state of the art National Security Cutter 
bearing the name of the Service's founder. In his two years commanding 
the Hamilton, Captain Cronin seized over 13 tons of illegal drugs worth 
$316 million, removed 41 drug traffickers from the water, and led his 
crew through the Covid-19 pandemic.
  Most recently, he took his crew over 5,000 nautical miles from home 
to the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. There, he conducted training 
with NATO and Black Sea allies in the face of Russian aggression, 
enforcing the rule of law and the steadfast commitment of the United 
States to our friends in the region. He operated in a global 
environment and proved once again how powerful and important our Coast 
Guard is to the world.
  While his retirement is a loss to the Service, his legacy will 
continue to live on in the Coast Guard men and women he served with 
over the last 25 years. They have undoubtedly benefitted from his 
leadership, genuine compassion for others, and commitment to the Coast 
Guard's core values of honor, respect, and devotion lo duty.
  Captain Cronin, those whom you've led now have the watch. I wish 
Captain Cronin fair winds and following seas as he starts a new chapter 
in his life. Bravo Zulu on a job very well-done.
  I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing this great 
American and Coast Guardsman for his selfless service to our Nation.

                          ____________________