[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMENDATION OF COL. JAMES G. PANGELINAN

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                      of northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2018

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons I have worked to increase 
the number of young people from the Mariana Islands who can attend the 
U.S. military academies is because I believe the Marianas offers a 
wealth of talent that can add to the strength of our military.
  A case in point is West Point graduate James G. Pangelinan, who just 
hit 22 years of active duty service on June 1 and who graduated from 
the Army War College on June 8 with a master of arts in strategic 
studies and distinguished graduate honors. At the same time Pangelinan 
was promoted to the rank of colonel, the first person from the Marianas 
to achieve that rank in the U.S. Army. In fact, he is also the first 
person from the Marianas to graduate from West Point and, I understand, 
the first from our islands to graduate from the Army War College.
  I would like to review COL Pangelinan's distinguished career to date. 
Upon graduation from West Point with a bachelor of science degree in 
English literature and philosophy, he received his commission and began 
service. According to information from the U.S. Army, Pangelinan first 
was assigned as a rifle platoon leader and company executive officer in 
the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington 
from 1997 to 99. He next served as an assistant operations officer with 
the Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia from 2000 to 02. 
While assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii from 2002 to 06, he served 
as a brigade and battalion assistant operations officer, commanded a 
rifle company in the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, and 
deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  From 2006 to 08, Pangelinan was an Opposition Forces commander with 
the Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He 
deployed to Afghanistan, serving as a strategist in the NATO Training 
Mission Afghanistan in Kabul. From 2011 to 13, he served as the 
battalion executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry 
Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado and deployed to Afghanistan in support 
of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  From 2013 to 14, Pangelinan served as the Brigade Rear Detachment 
commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry 
Division. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment at 
Fort Benning from 2014 to 16. Following battalion command, COL 
Pangelinan served on the Army Staff in the G-3/5/7 where he was 
responsible for the publication and execution of the Army Campaign Plan 
2017.
  Throughout this tim Pangelinan continued his academic pursuits, 
earning a master of military art and science from the School of 
Advanced Military Studies and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from 
Kansas State University both in 2010.
  Pangelinan's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, 
Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service 
Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Ranger Tab, Parachutist 
Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, 
and Expert Infantryman Badge.
  He is the son of Dulce Pangelinan and Edward D.L.G. Pangelinan, who 
was the lead negotiator of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States 
of America and who was the first person elected to represent the 
Marianas here in Washington.
  COL Pangelinan begins a two-year stint in the Republic of Korea on 
the staff of US Forces Korea in July to continue a career his family 
and the Mariana Islands can all be proud of.
  I salute COL James G. Pangelinan for his many achievements and thank 
him for his service.

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