[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARISOL CHALAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2019

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Lieutenant 
Colonel Marisol Chalas for her exemplary dedication to duty and service 
as an Army Congressional Fellow in my office and Congressional Budget 
Liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management 
and Comptroller). Lieutenant Colonel Chalas is transitioning from her 
current assignment to serve as the Legislative Assistant to the Vice 
Chief of Staff, Army.
  Born in Bani, Dominican Republic, Lieutenant Colonel Chalas moved 
with her family to the United States at the age of nine. She began her 
military career as an enlisted Soldier in July 1990, and in 2001 she 
received her commission as Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch 
from the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School. She 
received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from 
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a Master of Business Administration 
from Georgia State University and a Master of Legislative Affairs from 
George Washington University.
  Lieutenant Colonel Chalas has served in a broad range of assignments 
during her extensive military career. These include two rotations as 
Company Commander, operational experience at multiple echelons with 
Army units and Joint Task forces, international duties with Dominican 
Republic Canadian Forces, and completion of the Army Congressional 
Fellowship program.
  In 2017, as an Army Congressional Fellow, I had the privilege of 
working with Lieutenant Colonel Chalas in my office for a year and 
during her subsequent assignment as a Congressional Budget Liaison for 
the U.S. Army. She worked tirelessly as Defense Fellow, assisted my 
office on a range of legislative issues, and coordinated with Members 
of Congress and their staffs to accurately articulate the Army's budget 
positions to the Appropriations Committees. Her professionalism, 
diligence, and commitment to the mission are unmatched, and her work 
both as a fellow and as a liaison very effectively represented the U.S. 
Army and the Department of Defense to the United States Congress.
  Throughout her career, Lieutenant Colonel Chalas has positively 
impacted soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited from 
her extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion for the Army 
profession. I join my colleagues today in honoring her dedication to 
our Nation and invaluable service to the United States Congress as an 
Army Congressional Budget Liaison.
  Madam Speaker, it has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with 
Lieutenant Colonel Chalas since the first session of the 115th 
Congress. It is with great appreciation that I recognize and commend 
Marisol for her service to our country and wish her all the best as she 
continues her service in the United States Army.

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