[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CAPTAIN JUAN TUDELA SALAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this occasion to 
commend a man who has dedicated over three decades of faithful service 
to the United States Coast Guard. Captain Juan Tudela Salas, the first 
Chamorro selected to attend and graduate from the United States Coast 
Guard Academy, is slated to retire at the end of this month.
  For over thirty years, Captain Salas distinguished himself as one of 
Guam's top military service members. Having earned a Bachelor of 
Science degree in General Naval Engineering from the Academy in 1968, 
he was awarded a Coast Guard scholarship that enabled him to earn a 
Master's Degree in Public Administration from the George Washington 
University.
  In his three decades with the United States Coast Guard, Captain 
Salas amassed an extensive seagoing record. In addition, he 
demonstrated expertise in the field of recruiting and marketing. He was 
assigned to the USCGC Basswood from 1972 to 1974. Prior to being 
appointed Chief of the Military Recruiting Branch of the Twelfth Coast 
Guard District in San Francisco, Captain Salas served on the USCGC Red 
Birch from 1970 until 1972. In 1974, he was once again assigned to sea 
duty with the USCGC Resolute. From the Resolute, he moved on to 
Washington, D.C., in 1976, to serve as Chief of the Minority Recruiting 
Branch at the Coast Guard Headquarters. In 1981, he was out at sea once 
again with the USCGC Ute.
  From 1983 until 1986, Captain Salas served as the Officer in Charge 
of the Interdiction Operations Intelligence Center for the Vice 
President's National Narcotics Border Interdiction system in Miami, 
Florida. In 1986, he assumed command of the USCGC Lipan. While 
commanding the Lipan, he successfully directed the interdiction of four 
vessels and the seizure of a total of over 20,000 lbs. of marijuana and 
5,500 lbs. of cocaine.
  Captain Salas was back to recruiting in 1989. He served his last 
assignment in this field as chief of Recruiting and Job entry Division 
at coast guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. As chief, he was 
responsible for the nation's Coast Guard recruiting programs, directing 
a nationwide force of 280 recruiters. He served in this capacity until 
1992 when he assumed command of the Coast Guard Marianas Section and 
Marine Safety Office Guam. As commander, he has discharged his duties 
in such an exemplary manner that his Operations Center staff won the 
Controller of the Year Award for the entire coast guard in April, 1993. 
He is currently the Deputy Assistant Commandant for Coast Guard Civil 
Rights, assuming the position in 1996 after serving as Deputy Commander 
of the Coast Guard Personnel Command.
  Throughout his career, Captain Salas had been awarded 3 Meritorious 
Service Medals, 2 Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard 
Achievement Medal, in addition to numerous unit and operational awards. 
Outside of the military, he has served on different occasions as 
president of the Guam Society of America in Washington, D.C. He has 
also been appointed Honorary Ambassador-at-Large for the island by the 
governor of Guam.
  Captain Salas is married to May Camacho Sanchez Salas, formerly from 
the village of Barrigada. They have four children. The eldest, LTJG 
Matthew Salas, followed in his father's footsteps by graduating from 
the Coast guard Academy in 1996.
  Captain Salas' distinguished military career is a great source of 
pride for the people of Guam. I congratulate him on his outstanding 
achievements. Together with the people of Guam, I join his family in 
proudly celebrating his great accomplishments. I hope that he enjoys 
his well-earned retirement and wish him the best in his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________