[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CAPTAIN ROBERT R. O'BRIEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor CAPT Robert R. 
O'Brien, Commander of the United States Coast Guard Sector New York. On 
April 6th of this year Captain O'Brien celebrated the anniversary of 
his enlistment in the Coast Guard in 1970. During Captain O'Brien's 40 
consecutive years of brave service he rose from an enlisted member to 
commander of the Coast Guard's largest operations unit.
  Captain O'Brien enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1970 at the rank of 
seaman apprentice. In 1976 he was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of the 
USCGC Blackberry at Oak Island, North Carolina. In 1978 he was assigned 
to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, and then in 1979 he was promoted again 
to Chief Boatswain's Mate on the largest Aids to Navigation Team in the 
Atlantic Area. In 1980 he was named Chief Warrant Officer of the Aids 
to Navigation Team on the Long Island Sound.
  In 1983 Captain O'Brien continued his accelerated rise through the 
ranks, receiving his commission as a Lieutenant. Over the next several 
years he was assigned to various posts around the country including the 
Marine Safety Office in Galveston, Texas; Supervisor of the Marine 
Safety Detachment in Marietta, Ohio; the Marine Safety Office in 
Detroit, Michigan; the Fifth Coast Guard District Office in Portsmouth, 
Virginia, and the Marine Safety Office in Hampton Roads, Virginia. In 
1999 Captain O'Brien was promoted to Commanding Officer of the Marine 
Safety Office in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2002 he left for Washington, 
DC, to serve as the Coast Guard Liaison to Navy's Military Sealift 
Command where he participated as an advisor in weekly senior staff 
meetings at Coast Guard headquarters. In 2003 he was promptly promoted 
again to Captain and assumed command of the Marine Safety Office in 
Hampton Roads. In July 2005 he was promoted one final time to his 
current position as Commander of the Sector Hampton Roads.
  His rise from an enlisted service member at the lowest rank to his 
senior position is an increasingly rare and difficult feat in the 
United States armed services. Throughout his career Captain O'Brien has 
been recognized for his excellent service, receiving the Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard 
Achievement Medal, the Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation 
Ribbon, and three Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals. Captain O'Brien's 
dedication to service is an example for all Americans.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in 
honoring CAPT Robert O'Brien for his brave service to our country, as 
well as congratulate him for completing his 40th consecutive year in 
the United States Coast Guard, and wish him the best as Captain O'Brien 
will begin in October of this year a most well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________