US Senate approves resolution honoring retired USCG Admiral Thad Allen

Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran Offers Resolution, Expresses Appreciation to Coast Guard Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today approved a resolution authored by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) that commemorates the 39-year career of retired Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen.

The resolution (S.Res.170) cites Allen’s overall career and accomplishments, particularly those demonstrated in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as response to the April 2010 explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico.  It was approved by unanimous consent.

“In Mississippi, we are grateful for the service and leadership of Admiral Thad Allen, which will be long remembered and appreciated,” Cochran said.

“Admiral Allen proved himself to be a man of not just sterling courage with compassion to match, but also a man of great integrity and an enormous capacity for hard work.  He is a direct reflection of the guardian ethos and an inspiration to those who have had the good fortune to work with him.  Admiral Allen will, of course, be the first to say that the brave men and women throughout the ranks of the Coast Guard are the ones who deserve the credit for success.  He has made a habit of openly praising their sacrifice and often thankless service,” the Senator said.

“Today I’m proud to say that my state, due in part to his leadership and those Coast Guard men and women who have served under him, has made a great deal of progress in recovering from the most severe natural disasters in our nation’s history,” he said.

The resolution introduced by Cochran recognizes and honors Allen for his service to the nation and states that “it is appropriate that he be remembered as exemplifying such trademark characteristics exhibited by great leaders.”

The measure was cosponsored by Senators John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), respectively the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.  Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) also cosponsored the resolution.

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112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 170

Honoring Admiral Thad Allen of the United States Coast Guard (Ret.) for his lifetime of selfless commitment and exemplary service to the United States.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 5, 2011

Mr. COCHRAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

RESOLUTION

Honoring Admiral Thad Allen of the United States Coast Guard (Ret.) for his lifetime of selfless commitment and exemplary service to the United States.

Whereas Admiral Thad Allen, the 23rd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, retired from the Coast Guard on June 30, 2010, after 39 distinguished years of service;

Whereas Admiral Allen graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1971 and served in a number of capacities, including serving as the Principal Federal Official for response and recovery operation for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Coast Guard Chief of Staff, and most recently as National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico;

Whereas Admiral Allen commanded with distinction the foremost Coast Guard in the world from 2006 to 2010 and has embodied the Coast Guard’s enduring values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty;

Whereas Admiral Allen, during his tenure as Commandant, focused the Coast Guard on modernization and improved readiness in responding to natural disasters;

Whereas Admiral Allen, during his tenure as Commandant, worked to ensure the safety of professional mariners and millions of recreational and commercial vessels, facilitate commerce, protect the ports and maritime infrastructure of the United States from terrorism, conduct humanitarian operations, protect our marine environment, secure United States borders, combat drug trafficking, support anti-piracy efforts, and support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;

Whereas Admiral Allen demonstrated the vision and transformational leadership that will provide the United States with a Coast Guard that is not only capable of meeting and exceeding the ever-changing maritime challenges of the United States, but also able to better anticipate future challenges and missions;

Whereas Admiral Allen provided steady leadership in times of crisis;

Whereas as Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States once said, `The qualities of a great man are vision, integrity, courage, understanding, the power of articulation, and profundity of character’; and

Whereas as we bid fair winds and following seas to Admiral Allen, it is appropriate that he be remembered as exemplifying such trademark characteristics exhibited by great leaders: Now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(a) recognizes and honors Admiral Thad Allen of the United States Coast Guard (retired), on behalf of a grateful Nation, for his lifetime of selfless commitment and exemplary service; and

(b) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Admiral Thad Allen.

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