[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11976]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARINE SCIENCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS NICOLE EMMONS 
FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE MILITARY TIMES COAST GUARD SERVICE MEMBER OF 
                                THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marine 
Science Technician Second Class Nicole Emmons, of Clearwater Florida, 
for her selection as the Military Times Coast Guard Service Member of 
the Year. Nicole exemplifies the best in our nation's military and 
serves as a shining example of how one person can make an impact at the 
community, the state and the national level.
  Nicole Emmons was chosen as both the Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles, 
Louisiana and the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston's Enlisted 
Person of the Year by area Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs. 
Working with the Contingency Preparedness/Incident Management Division 
at Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles, Nicole contributed countless hours 
to stand-up her unit's first Homeland Security Division. As one of 
three Law Enforcement instructors, she shoulders significant 
responsibility. She organizes a month-long training program for new 
members, leads hands-on practice sessions and organizes qualifications 
boards. Nicole Emmons also worked during off-duty hours in mission 
requirements associated with specially targeted vessels and has 
participated in over 20 security boardings.
  Displaying exceptional initiative, she deployed to the Marine Safety 
Unit Port Arthur Incident Command Post, providing her expertise as a 
Situation Unit Leader in the aftermath of the EAGLE OTOME's 450,000 
gallon crude oil spill. She filled a key role in providing operational 
commanders with continuous feedback regarding the progress of the 
clean-up efforts and was awarded the Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of 
Commendation. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she was awarded 
the Coast Guard's Special Operations Ribbon for training reservist 
pollution investigators. In November of 2010, she transferred to the 
Planning Division and immediately accepted several large areas of 
responsibility well above her pay grade, including providing critical 
updates needed for the Geographic Response Plan and Area Response Plan.
  Nicole Emmons also serves her community. She helped create the unit's 
Moving Assistance Team to minimize the financial burden of local moves 
for fellow shipmates. She is a founding member of her unit's COMPASS 
program, which promotes community outreach and diversity education in 
local high schools. Serving as the Vice President of the Human 
Relations Council, she helps to provide a safe, open forum for 
discussing human relation issues and celebrating different cultures.
  Nicole Emmons' service to the community also includes volunteering 
for the local Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lunch Buddy 
program and mentoring an academically and socially challenged child. 
She has participated in charity fund-raising and community events, such 
as the Ethel Precht Breast Cancer 3K, the Coast Guard Relay for Life 
and volunteering for the Lake Charles Special Olympics Torch Run.
  Along with all of her numerous career achievements, Nicole holds two 
Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of North Carolina at 
Chapel Hill.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues 
today in saying thank you to Marine Science Technician Second Class 
Nicole Emmons for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to 
this country through her outstanding performance in the United States 
Coast Guard and her community. We wish Nicole, her husband Michael, and 
her family all the best in her remarkably bright future.

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