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 Fugate
inducted into National Guard Hall of Fame
By Staff Sgt. Thomas Kielbasa
Florida National Guard Public
Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The National
Guard Association of Florida inducted Florida Director of Emergency
Management William “Craig” Fugate into its Hall of Fame, during the
organization’s annual state conference held in Jacksonville, June 24.
Mr. Fugate was named the 2006
Inductee into the Hall of Fame during an evening banquet attended by
Florida National Guard leadership and Gov. Jeb Bush. A plaque noting the
distinction was presented to Mr. Fugate during the event by Commander of
the Florida Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Joseph Balskus.
This is the second year the
prestigious award has been given; in 2005 Gov. Bush was inducted into
the National Guard Association of Florida Hall of Fame.
During the past two hurricane
seasons Mr. Fugate and the Florida Division of Emergency Management
worked closely with the Florida National Guard, successfully responding
to hurricane relief efforts across the state.
During an address to members of the
association earlier in the day, Fugate lauded the Florida National Guard
for its active participation during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons,
and called the State of Florida Emergency Management “one of the best
teams in the nation.”
“We recognize our strengths, we know
our weaknesses,” he explained. “And we have built a system that
maximizes our capabilities. Most importantly, one that maximizes our
citizen-Soldiers.”
He noted the effectiveness of the
Florida National Guard in responding to a variety of emergency missions
since 2001, including airport and seaport security, and response to
natural disasters. Because of the Florida National Guard’s willingness
to respond at a moment’s notice to provide emergency relief, “the most
effective use of our taxpayers’ dollars is our citizen-Soldiers” Mr.
Fugate said.
Fugate oversees an agency with 132
full-time staff, and his agency coordinates disaster response, recovery,
preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state's 67 counties
and local governments.
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