Elena McCullough Biography
Elena McCullough is a twenty-four (24) year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. She was born in Santo Domingo. At age nine she began to spend summers in New York with her father, a lawn maintenance worker. At age sixteen she was sent to live with her aunt in San Diego, California to finish high school, learn English, and start a career to be better able to help her mom. At the advice of her uncle she joined the United States Coast Guard the week of her 18th birthday and proudly became a US citizen three years later. At this young age she discovered that with hard work in America any dream could become reality. After basic training she studied and worked tirelessly and promoted steadily through the ranks. As a single working mother she attended night school to obtain her associates degree and also volunteered in multiple community outreach efforts to help those less fortunate.
She attended Officer Candidate School and graduated in July 1994 with the rank of Ensign (O-1E). She started a new assignment in the Marine Safety field as Planner for the port of Mobile, AL and Facility Branch Supervisor. She assisted enlisted members with their educational goals and led Partners in Education, a program dedicated to mentor students and assist with educational goals at a local elementary school. She received an award for her efforts improving the life of students and Coast Guard members pursuing higher educational goals. In 1997 she was transferred to the Davis Island facility in Tampa, FL where she served for five years. She conducted foreign and U. S. vessel inspections and became the Senior Investigator officer of the unit. During this period she was selected for a special assignment in an international drug interdiction operation in the Dominican Republic.
Her last two years in the Coast Guard she worked as the Chief Planning Officer for the port of Miami. There she played a key role in implementing new Coast Guard efforts in Homeland Security. As the Planning Officer she coordinated a simulated plane crash exercise with multiple local, state and federal agencies. She retired after serving 24 years in the Coast Guard; a career that she loved. She then worked for a few years in the Arts Dept Human Resources at USF. Elena obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Excelsior College in January 2006.
Throughout her life Elena has been extremely active in community outreach. During President Obama’s Campaign she was a key volunteer in Wesley Chapel, responsible for four Precincts. Elena worked hundreds of hours and coordinated the area efforts that helped deliver a successful outcome. After the campaign was over she created an organization, Wesley Chapel Community for Change, with many of the volunteers. The organization is dedicated to improving life in Wesley Chapel through volunteerism and civic activism. WCC4Change has 70+ members including area high school students. The group volunteers in area community service projects such as the Veteran’s Hospital, local food pantries, and Habitat for Humanity projects. In addition these efforts provide opportunities for local high school students to perform their community service hours, which is helpful in competing for college admissions and scholarships.
Elena & Ray McCullough were married in 1995, when she was stationed in Mobile, AL and Ray, a dentist, was practicing in Los Angeles, CA. In 1997 they finally got to move as a family to Florida and immediately assimilated into Florida life in Wesley Chapel. In 1998 they were blessed by having the opportunity to adopt their daughter who is now attending public middle school. Their son attended public elementary, middle, and high school in Wesley Chapel and is presently in college in Miami. Elena and her family are Catholic.
