Port Commissioner Wayne Justice to Speak Aug. 12 at Meeting of Brevard Federated Republican Women

By  //  August 11, 2019

served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 37-years

Retired Rear Admiral Wayne Justice will be the guest speaker for the August 12 meeting of the Brevard Federated Republican Women. Justice, a Port Canaveral Commissioner since being elected in 2014, served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 37-years.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Retired Rear Admiral Wayne Justice will be the guest speaker for the August 12 meeting of the Brevard Federated Republican Women.

Justice, a Port Canaveral Commissioner since being elected in 2014, served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 37-years.

During that time he completed law enforcement and rescue missions in Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

He also served as a Military Aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, carrying the nuclear “football” for the two presidents.

The Brevard Federated Republican Women event will be held at the Duran Golf Club, located at 7032 Stadium Parkway in Viera at 11 a.m.

Advanced reservations are necessary by Wednesday, August 7 at 12 noon. The $25 meeting free covers a plate lunch of London Broil, accompaniments and dessert. Gluten-free and vegetarian are available.

The Brevard Federated Republican Women were established in 1950 and help encourage and empower women in all areas of the political system.

Reservations can be made and paid for online at BrevardFederatedRepublicanWomen.org or by calling 321-727-1212.

Retired Admiral Wayne Justice is a Port Canaveral Commissioner and, above, talks with Space Coast Daily Special Correspondent Danny Treanor during an election event.

CAREER PUBLIC SERVANT AND MILITARY OFFICER

Justice grew up in Staten Island, New York and attended St. John’s Lutheran Elementary and Curtis High School. During his senior year at the public high school, Wayne received an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

“As the son of a Public Health Service doctor, I was excited about service to our country ever since I can remember,” said Justice.

Only one day after high school graduation, Justice started eight weeks of “swab summer” at the Coast Guard Academy.

“Military life, arduous academic standards and college football kept me fully engaged,” said Justice. “Football was actually a relief from the military academy’s challenges.”

 Justice set a record for the Coast Guard, with 21 drug seizures in two years and his crew also saved hundreds of Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift.
During his second assignment as the commanding officer of a 95-foot patrol boat in West Palm Beach, Wayne Justice set a record for the Coast Guard, with 21 drug seizures in two years and his crew also saved hundreds of Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

He graduated with a degree in management and started his Coast Guard career as an ensign on a destroyer-sized cutter in Boston.

During his second assignment as the commanding officer of a 95-foot patrol boat in West Palm Beach, Justice set a record for the Coast Guard, with 21 drug seizures in two years and his crew also saved hundreds of Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift.

This was the beginning of an exciting Coast Guard career that included 40 seizures of drug-laden vessels, the safe interception of thousands of illegal migrants, saving hundreds of lives on search and rescue cases and 12 years at sea on six different cutters while commanding four of them.

His final ship command was of a 378-foot cutter in San Francisco, where his crew seized a Mexican fishing boat carrying 19,500 pounds of cocaine.

One particularly challenging assignment was when he was Military Aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush, above, and Bill Clinton, carrying the “football” for the two presidents. “I had the honor to serve President and Mrs. Bush, who both had the highest integrity and utmost respect for the office, along with the deepest concern for our country.” (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
A particularly challenging assignment for Wayne Justice was when he was Military Aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush, above, and Bill Clinton, carrying the “football” for the two presidents. “I had the honor to serve President and Mrs. Bush, who both had the highest integrity and utmost respect for the office, along with the deepest concern for our country.” (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

MILITARY AIDE TO PRESIDENTS BUSH AND CLINTON

In Justice’s 37 year career, his family moved 19 times as he was stationed from Boston to Key West to San Francisco. Fifteen of the years were in Florida, completing law enforcement and rescue missions in Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

One particularly challenging assignment was when he was Military Aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, carrying the “football” for the two presidents.

“I had the honor to serve President and Mrs. Bush, who both had the highest integrity and utmost respect for the office, along with the deepest concern for our country.”

As a senior officer, Justice was Chief of Programs for the Coast Guard, building a $6 billion dollar budget. As an admiral, he ran the Coast Guard’s operational policy, then its operational requirements.

His final assignment as a two-star admiral was leading the Coast Guard’s Middle Atlantic States from New Jersey to South Carolina.

In Wayne Justice’s 37 year career, his family moved 19 times as he was stationed from Boston to Key West to San Francisco. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
In Wayne Justice’s 37 year career, his family moved 19 times as he was stationed from Boston to Key West to San Francisco. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Justice has served on the board of directors of the Propeller Club, a facilitating group at Port Canaveral, the Space Coast Navy League, Crosswinds Youth Services and a Merchant’s Association.

He has moved into the second Vice President position for the Brevard Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), a 1,400 person strong group supporting veterans and active duty military personnel.

Throughout his Coast Guard career, Justice learned and espoused the belief that the heart of attaining exceptional performance is setting high standards, coupled with ensuring people have the training and properly maintained equipment to reach those standards.

Justice says that he maintains that philosophy in his leadership positions here in Brevard County.

His ship commands; federal policy, acquisition and capabilities knowledge; extensive law enforcement and security expertise; along with participation in numerous trials and congressional hearings, has provided the broad experience needed to help direct operations at Port Canaveral.

Justice supported thousands of Coast Guard men and women during his military service.

“I would like to continue this service by applying my uniquely suited experience to supporting the residents and businesses in Brevard County as one of their Port Commissioners,” said Justice.

The Brevard Federated Republican Women event will be held at the Duran Golf Club, located at 7032 Stadium Parkway in Viera at 11 a.m. Reservations can be made and paid for online at BrevardFederatedRepublicanWomen.org or by calling 321-727-1212.