‘Perfect Storm' Hero Captain Larry Brudnicki to Deliver Keynote Address at NABP's 101st Annual Meeting

April 1, 2005 12:00 AM

Battling treacherous storms, performing search and rescues, and capturing narcotics traffickers may seem completely unrelated to the day-to-day functions of those in the pharmacy profession, but United States Coast Guard Captain Larry Brudnicki believes that success in any profession depends on setting goals, being prepared, understanding risks, and working in teams. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is pleased to welcome Captain Brudnicki as keynote speaker for its 101st Annual Meeting, May 21-24, 2005, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, LA, during which he will speak about what is necessary to perform successfully in today's challenging business environment.

Throughout his career, Captain Brudnicki has seen the importance of leadership, teamwork, and risk management strategies. During his speech on Sunday, May 22 at 1:15 PM, he will give Annual Meeting attendees new ideas and tactics on being an effective leader, succeeding in situations you cannot control, and making difficult decisions with confidence. In addition, he will share his approach on how to take action when you may not like your options, inspiring teamwork, and managing risk.

Captain Brudnicki is best known for his two dramatic rescues during the "Perfect Storm" off the coast of New England in October 1991. During this historic event, three separate storm systems collided off the coast of New England, creating an "eye" that spanned 1,500 miles, and moved in retrograde motion from east to west. Captain Brudnicki and his team braved 80-mph winds and 40-foot swells to save three people from a sinking sailboat and then saved four Air National Guardsmen after their own rescue helicopter ran out of fuel and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Combating the "Perfect Storm" amounted to only 100 hours of Captain Brudnicki's illustrious career in the US Coast Guard. Other notable events in his career include extensive work in counter drug operations, supervising more than 15,000 search and rescue cases that saved 1,600 lives including the survivors of the Alaska Air Flight #261 tragedy, participating in the clean-up operation of the T/V Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989, and taking a proactive approach to discrepancy response and Waterway Analysis Management Studies. Captain Brudnicki retired from the US Coast Guard in March 2002. He performed his last assignment as the chief of operations, 11th Coast Guard District, Alameda, CA, in August 1997. During this time he had tactical control of ships and aircraft that seized more than 150 tons of cocaine, including the 10 largest cocaine seizures in 2000 and 2001.

A graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor's degree in engineering, Brudnicki, later earned a master's degree in physical science from Wesleyan University and a master's degree in physics from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. He was also honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including the Legion of Merit, the Coast Guard Medal (for heroism), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (four awards), the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal (two awards).

For more information on the 101st Annual Meeting, please contact the NABP Meetings Desk at 847/391-4406 or via e-mail at custserv@nabp.net. Information and registration forms may also be found on NABP's Web site at www.nabp.net.

Renee Renganathan