PEARL HARBOR – Captain Paul T. Fuligni, who was born in Virginia, grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and graduated from Northwestern University as a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program, is retiring from the Navy after more than 29 years of distinguished service in a ceremony to be held August 19 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
His current assignment as Vice Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii began in August 2009. Before becoming NAVFAC Pacific’s Vice Commander, Fuligni served as the Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Marianas in Guam and the first Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Northwest in Bangor, Wash.
“I’ve served in many places around the world, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. During my time at NAVFAC Pacific I will always fondly remember the people who I served with. I have gained an abundance of knowledge throughout my time here as both Operations Officer and Vice Commander, and I will never forget the camaraderie and mission-focused work ethic of the NAVFAC Pacific family.”
In September 2010, Fuligni was installed as the Gray Banana, which is the senior Civil Engineer Corps Captain on active duty. The title is derived from the Civil Engineer Corps insignia of overlapped sprigs of oak leaves, which are colloquially referred to as “crossed bananas,” due to their shape and yellow color.
Fuligni also served in previous Civil Engineer Corps assignments at the Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., the Engineering Field Activity Chesapeake in the Washington Navy Yard, the Pentagon, the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Wahiawa, Hawaii, the Healthcare Support Office at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, the Navy Public Works Center, Great Lakes, Ill., Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62, the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam and at Naval Base Norfolk.
Fuligni is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist, a registered professional engineer and is a member of the acquisition professional community. Fuligni also earned a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkley.
Fuligni will make his home in Illinois and will begin his first civilian job as the Facilities Director at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Edwardsville. SIU Edwardsville is one of two Southern Illinois University campuses, and has a total enrollment of 14,000 students.
Submitted by Don Rochon of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command