The publication is reproduced in full below:
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.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 113(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 113(2)
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