In a special ceremony before the entire Brigade of Midshipmen, the Superintendent, Vice Admiral Jeffrey L. Fowler ’78, USN, and Admiral Steve Abbot ’66 USN, (Ret.), chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, recognized and honored five Naval Academy graduates for lifelong achievement with the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award on Friday, April 16, in Alumni Hall at the Naval Academy. Each recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Graduate Award demonstrated commitment to a lifetime of service and has made significant contributions to the Navy/Marine Corps and the nation.

Among those honored was General Carlton W. Fulford Jr., Class of 1966, USMC (Ret.).

Fulford came to the Academy from Millen taking on extra elective courses, earning a varsity letter in 150-pound football and helping establish rugby as a permanent sport. Lucky Bag predicted he was “bound for a successful career.” He later received a Masters in Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

He has had a long and successful career leading Marines including during Desert Storm. He has been awarded numerous awards and citations. After his retirement in 2003, he became the director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, was a national Security Council envoy to East Africa’s Great Lakes Region and was a negotiator in the Sudanese peace process resulting in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Accord.

He currently consults regarding security issues with a particular focus on Africa. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and French Legion of Merit.