[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 165 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING CHARLES MENG OF NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Mr. Charles Meng, who is being honored this evening on the occasion of 
his retirement after 20 years of service on the Napa Valley College 
Board of Trustees. Mr. Meng is retiring from the board to serve as a 
commissioner on the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior 
Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
  Charles has dedicated his life to serving his country and his 
community. He graduated from West Point in 1957 and was a commissioned 
officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He went on to serve as a 
senior engineer manager in the U.S. Navy's nuclear submarine program. 
He is completing his fifth four-year term on the Napa Valley College 
Board of Trustees and was also elected to the Association of Community 
Colleges Trustees Board in 2004. He has served on many community 
college accreditation teams and is an expert on community college 
governance. Charles was the NVC Board's representative on a number of 
critical college committees, including the Technology Plan Development, 
Napa River Flood Control project and Mare Island Naval Shipyard 
closure. He was also on the committees to hire three college 
presidents.
  As the current president and longest serving member of the board, 
Charles is admired and respected by the entire campus as well as the 
community at large. An engineer by trade, he is known as a highly 
intelligent, focused and analytical leader. He is a consensus builder 
but will not budge on his commitment to preserving access to higher 
education for all. One of the ways he has demonstrated this commitment 
is by serving on my service academy review panel, interviewing young 
people from my district seeking nomination to our Nation's service 
academies. As a West Point graduate himself, Mr. Meng's insights and 
experiences serving our country were invaluable in this process. Due to 
his guidance and support, many were able to fulfill their dream of 
serving our country as he has.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, it is appropriate at this time that we 
thank Mr. Charles Meng for the incredible work he has done on behalf of 
the students of Napa Valley College and for the work he will 
undoubtedly continue to do. Napa Valley College is a premier 
institution for higher learning and will remain that way due in large 
part to his efforts. I join his family and everyone in the Napa Valley 
College Community in wishing him continued success and fulfillment.

                          ____________________