[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
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 the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 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 offer 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. He is 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 1997-99. He next served as an assistant operations 
officer with the Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia from 
2000-02. While assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii from 2002-06, 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 2006-08, 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 2011-13, 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 2013-14, 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 2014-16. 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 time 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 U.S. 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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