[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21819-21820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  COMMENDING COMMANDER CARLOS DEL TORO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2001

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on December 8, 2001, Commander Carlos 
Del Toro will take command of the USS Bulkeley, the newest Aegis Guided 
Missile Destroyer.
  The USS Bulkeley is named in honor of Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley. 
Vice Admiral Bulkeley was a true hero, serving our nation through 55 
years of active duty. From his role in the landing at Normandy to his 
role as Commander of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo, he served our 
country with loyalty and honor.
  It is only appropriate that the commander of the USS Bulkeley embody 
the same exceptional characteristics of the ship's namesake. Commander 
Carlos Del Toro immigrated to the United States in 1962 from Cuba. He 
left a land sadly beset by oppression and dictatorship, and has devoted 
his life to defending liberty and democracy.
  After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983, Commander Del 
Toro began his honorable military career serving aboard the USS 
Koelsch, later serving on the USS Preble, and the USS America. While 
serving as the assistant engineer on the USS America aircraft carrier, 
he was deployed to the Persian Gulf twice in support of Operation 
Desert Storm.
  Commander Del Toro has received a Masters Degree in Space Systems 
Engineering and Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate 
School, and served as Space Systems Program Manager at the Pentagon. He 
was responsible for managing a satellite ground station in support of 
our nation's national security. Following his work at the Pentagon, 
Commander Del Toro received a Master's Degree in National Security and 
Strategic Studies from the Navy War College, and served as Executive 
Officer of the USS Vincennes, a guided missile cruiser homeported in 
Japan.
  Commander Carlos Del Toro has spent his Naval career preparing for 
his next assignment leading the USS Bulkeley. He honors the United 
States Navy, and he honors the United States of America. As a fellow 
Cuban-American, Mr. Speaker, it is a special privilege for

[[Page 21820]]

me today to congratulate Commander Del Toro for his multiple career 
successes and to wish him and the crew of the USS Bulkeley Godspeed as 
they set to sea to defend America.

                          ____________________