[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 113 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE CAREER OF LEE A. LUFT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2022

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary career of a dedicated and highly impactful public servant 
in the State of Connecticut and the U.S. Coast Guard, Information 
Technology Specialist, Mr. Lee Luft. After nearly 43 years of diligent 
service in the U.S. Coast Guard, Lee retired on March 1, 2022. His 
retirement is to be honored at the United States Coast Guard Academy 
Officer's Club on August 12, 2022.
  Born and raised in Connecticut, Lee graduated from Wilcox Regional 
Vocational Technical High School in 1976, certified as an electrician. 
Lee continued his studies in that trade at Hartford State Technical 
College in 1979, graduating with an Associate in Science Degree in 
Electronics and Technology. That same year, Lee changed career paths 
and pursued a new vocation, joining the U.S. Coast Guard's Research and 
Development Center (RDC) as a Digital Computer Maintenance Worker. For 
those who are not familiar with the center, it is the hub of Coast 
Guard operational analysis and mission execution solutions, located in 
the Fort Trumbull section of New London, Connecticut. The center is 
responsible for testing and evaluation in all the mission areas of the 
Coast Guard, including maritime law enforcement, environmental 
protection, and national defense preparedness, to name a few. During 
Lee's tenure, the work of the R and D Center was constantly evolving, 
as the mission requirements of the Coast Guard changed. The 9-11 attack 
on our homeland, the rising challenges of climate change, the increase 
in human trafficking and drug smuggling at sea all occurred on Lee's 
watch. Like the entire team at the center, Lee was deeply involved in 
the Coast Guard's need to competently respond to new roles which hinged 
on highly functional information systems--his area of expertise. He 
remained at the RDC for a total of more than 39 years, advancing all 
the way to the role of Information Technology Specialist by the early 
2000s. As a reflection of his ambitious nature and desire to improve 
his skill, it is also worth noting that Lee completed his Bachelor of 
Science degree in Computer Science from the University of New Haven in 
1999.
  Lee's service extended to several other sections of the U.S. Coast 
Guard (USCG). From RDC he transitioned to USCG Command Control, 
Communications, Computers, and Information Technology (C4IT) Service 
Center Business Operations Division. He was later reassigned to C5ISC 
and specialized in Architecture and Engineering Standards. Lee was 
known to not back down from a challenge while at the Coast Guard, 
including the several opportunities he took up to represent both the 
Coast Guard and our Nation as Technical Delegate for the United States 
National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission in 
many places in and out of the country over his career.
  As someone who began their career with an electrician apprenticeship, 
Lee has moved up the ranks to become a nationally and internationally 
recognized presence, representing the United States on shipboard 
network standardization and communication protocols used by all types 
of Marine Electronic Equipment. Lee has been a significant player in 
the development of the USCG Nationwide Differential GPS (NDGPS), as 
well as a principal in the design and development of the USCG 
Nationwide AIS Client/Server architecture, and all AIS interface and 
network protocols. He has been bestowed several awards for his 
innovative research, including the Hammer Award from former Vice 
President Gore for his role in the development of the Differential 
Global Positioning System and a Civilian Service Commendation Medal for 
his work at the Coast Guard RDC between 1979 and 2018.
  Madam Speaker, Lee's contributions to the U.S. Coast Guard and the 
effectiveness of our Nation's strategic communications are 
immeasurable. His life's work is clearly deserving of an equal amount 
of gratitude. His life and career, dedicated to public service, exist 
as an inspiration to those who follow in his footsteps. Although his 
retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard undoubtedly leaves large shoes to 
fill, we are grateful that the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to 
receive his support in retirement. To these ends, I ask my colleagues 
in the House to join me in honoring, thanking, and commending Lee Luft 
for his successful commitment to the public well-being and safety by 
immortalizing his career through the Congressional Record.

                          ____________________