GEN. CARLTON FULFORD JR. Gen. Carlton W. Fulford Jr., USMC (Ret), a Millen native, has been named as one of five recipients of the 2010 Distinguished Graduate Award of the U.S. Naval Academy. The honorees were nominated by their classmates and selected by a committee from the Naval Academy Alumni Association.

“I am both honored and grateful to all who have contributed to whatever success I have had over the years. I know the foundation and values so many have provided me as I grew up in Millen have been very important to me,” commented Gen. Fulford.

While at the Academy, Gen. Fulford took extra elective courses and earned a varsity letter in 150-pound football and helped establish rugby as a permanent sport. He served as 20th Company Winter Set Commander his first class year. He later received a Master of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

During his varied military career that spans nearly 40 years, Gen. Fulford has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, Silver Star, legions of Merit with Combat V and gold star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart with gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation medal and Combat Action Ribbon with gold star – amongst many others.

After his retirement, he was a National Security Council envoy to East Africa’s Great Lakes Region in 2003, became the director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies from 2003-2006 and was a negotiator in the Sudanese peace process resulting in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Accord. He currently consults regarding security issues with particular focus on African Security matters. He has visited 46 of the 53 African nations and has been awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and French Legion of Merit.

Gen. Fulford is married to Mary Ann Smith Fulford of Statesboro. He is the son of the late C.W. Fulford Sr. and Dorothy Kempson Fulford of Millen.