Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage every Member of this Chamber to support this legislation honoring one of Santa Barbara County's own, Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez.

My bill would name the South Patterson Avenue post office in recognition of General Lopez's distinguished legacy of service and his dedication to our country, serving in the United States Marine Corps for over 30 years, both in Active Duty and the Reserves.

General Lopez was born in Santa Barbara as the oldest of six siblings and spent his childhood between the communities of Santa Barbara and Lompoc, and later in Goleta.

After graduating from Lompoc High School, he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in mathematics.

Upon graduation, General Lopez joined the United States Marine Corps in 1967. Soon after, he was deployed overseas for the Vietnam war, serving as an infantry rifle platoon commander and a regimental sniper platoon commander, as well. His service earned him both a Bronze Star and a Combat Action Ribbon, as well as the respect of the marines he served with.

Over his 30 years of service, General Lopez served in a number of critical leadership roles, including as a company commander of the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, commanding general for the 4th Marine Division, and deputy commanding general of the 1st Expeditionary Force.

He is a distinguished graduate of the NATO Joint Warfare Officers Course, the Naval War College Strategy and Policy Course, the Armed Forces Work Colleges National Security Course, the Senior Reserve Components Officers Course at the U.S. Army War College, and five other professional military schools.

Outside of his military service, General Lopez has been an active member of his community, serving on the board of directors of many organizations, including the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in Santa Barbara. He has also been a member of the Military Order of the World Wars for over 20 years. He was elected the 90th National Commander-in-Chief for the MOWW in 2020 and serves as the local Colonel George C. Woolsey Chapter commander.

General Lopez's service is beyond worthy of recognition by Congress. He represents the best of our servicemembers, and his leadership will inspire others to continue in his footsteps for years and decades to come, serving our Nation and the military families of the central coast.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking General Lopez for his exemplary service to our country by passing my bill to name the South Patterson Avenue post office in his honor.

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