[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING COMMANDER GEORGE O. FULENWIDER, III, UNITED STATES COAST 
                                 GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY F. MURPHY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2022

  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay a 
heartfelt tribute to Commander George O. Fulenwider, III of the United 
States Coast Guard, to honor his long and illustrious career. Commander 
Fulenwider began serving in the Coast Guard in January of 1984, when he 
enlisted as an E1. Upon graduating from basic training in Cape May, New 
Jersey, Commander Fulenwider was stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter 
UTE based out of Key West, Florida and has been serving our great 
nation with dedication and honor ever since. His retirement after many 
years of service to the United States Coast Guard is extraordinary and 
is a testament to his love for our country.
  During his very successful career, Commander Fulenwider spent 15 
years on 8 different cutters with positions including Engineering Petty 
Officer (EPO), Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) and Engineering Officer 
(EO). During his service, Commander Fulenwider supported various Coast 
Guard missions including: Port and Waterway Security, Drug 
Interdiction, Aids to Navigation, Search and Rescue, Living Marine 
Resources, Marine Safety, Defense Readiness, Migrant Interdiction, 
Marine Environmental Protection, Ice Operations and Law Enforcement.
  Throughout his career, Commander Fulenwider was either directly 
involved in or supported nearly every mission and operation the Coast 
Guard was involved in during his tenure. This includes Operation Just 
Cause in Panama (December 1989 to January 1990), Operation Desert 
Shield (August 1990 to January 1991), the Gulf War (August 1990 to 
February 1991), Operation Enduring Freedom/Global War on Terrorism 
resulting from the September 11th attacks on America's World Trade 
Centers (October 2001 to December 2014). In addition, Commander 
Fulenwider responded to the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 
Haiti that killed 250,000 people and displaced thousands of survivors.
  During his dedicated time of service, Commander Fulenwider quickly 
rose through the ranks of Seaman Recruit-Fireman (E1-E3), Machinery 
Technician Third Class (MK3, E4), MK2 (E5), MK1 (E6), MKC (E7), Chief 
Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2), Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3), Lieutenant 
(LT, O3E), Lieutenant Commander (LCDR, O4), and finally Commander (O5). 
Furthermore, the U.S. Coast Guard afforded him the opportunity to 
obtain his Associate of Science in Naval Engineering from Trident 
Technical College located in North Charleston, South Carolina.
  Commander Fulenwider has received countless awards and achievements 
during his illustrious career. These include the Meritorious Service 
Medal, numerous Coast Guard Commendation Medals, numerous Coast Guard 
Achievement medals and Commandants Letter of Commendation, The Coast 
Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Coast 
Guard and Navy Unit Commendation amongst many more.
  Currently, Commander Fulenwider is a Program Support Manager & 
Executive Officer at Project Resident Office Gulf Coast, assisting with 
the acquisition and construction of the Legend-Class National Security 
Cutters (NSC) at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The 
NSCs are the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard's 
fleet, with capabilities for maritime homeland security, law 
enforcement and national security missions. The NSCs are the largest 
cutters in the Coast Guard fleet at 418 feet long and have a maximum 
speed of 28 knots with a range of 12,000 nautical miles; these cutters 
are equipped to carry a crew of 148 and can be out at sea for 3-6 
months, projecting a U.S. presence around the globe, from the straits 
of Taiwan to the Black Sea.
  Commander George O. Fulenwider, III will retire in Hubert, North 
Carolina with his high school sweetheart and wife of 37 years, Nancy 
Fulenwider, who has supported his selfless career from the very 
beginning. The sacrifices they both have made to make this 
distinguishing career possible is simply admirable.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the retirement of this 
incredible and noble patriot and wishing Commander George O. 
Fulenwider, III, a happy retirement from his life of outstanding 
service to our country.

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