Florida's Distinguished Service Medal Awarded to Director Craig Fugate

For Immediate Release Contact: Jacob Dipietre
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 (850) 488-5394

Statement By:
Governor Jeb Bush
Regarding Awarding Florida's Distinguished Service Medal to Director Craig Fugate

TALLAHASSEE - “I am pleased to announce the Florida National Guard has awarded Florida's Distinguished Service Medal to Craig Fugate, Director of the Division of Emergency Management, for his support during the four major hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. He's a good man and is deserving of that high honor.

“Director Fugate gave the Guard exceptional flexibility in the way Florida mobilized our 6,000 soldiers to meet the needs of those affected by the storms. This sustained flexibility and his unique leadership allowed us to have soldiers in the right places at the right times in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes. I thank him for leading Florida's Emergency Operations Team with calm resolve and steadfast purpose during last year's unprecedented hurricane season.