[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING COL. MARIA A. JUAREZ ON HER PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL

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                     HON. JENNIFFER GONZALEZ-COLON

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2021

  Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
U.S. Army Reserve Colonel Maria A. Juarez on the occasion of her 
promotion to Brigadier General.
  Colonel Juarez entered the U.S. Army through the R.O.T.C. program at 
the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus in 1992, with honors 
as distinguished military graduate. Specializing in logistics she has 
served in the Quartermaster corps as a Regular Army and Army Reserve 
Officer for over 28 years, serving in multiple staff positions at all 
levels including Office of the Chief of Army Reserves, divisional and 
major Subordinate Command levels; with deployments and postings in the 
Continental States, Germany, the Balkans, Korea, and the Middle East.
  Since 2017, she has been the commander of the 166th Regional Support 
Group in Puerto Rico, part of the Army Reserve Caribbean Geographical 
Command under 1st Mission Support Command. She took command of the RSG 
in July 2017 and within two months was faced with the largest domestic 
relief operation of the Army Reserve in Puerto Rico's history. During 
the Hurricane Maria Relief Effort the 166th carried out over 700 
logistical support missions to remote locations throughout Puerto Rico.
  From January to September 2019, she deployed with the 166th Group to 
Afghanistan, where she served as the Commander for the Regional Support 
Group in Kabul, Afghanistan, after which she was selected to serve with 
the U.S. Central Command as the Deputy Plans Chief for Iran Branch. So, 
she has been tested both at home and abroad, facing threats both 
foreign and domestic with distinction.
  During her career, our newest Brigadier General has achieved two 
Masters degrees, in Strategic Studies and in Information Systems from 
the Army War College and Central Michigan University, and earned 
military awards and decorations including the Bronze Star, Defense 
Meritorious Service Medal, six Meritorious Service Medals and Army 
Commendation Medal, among many others.
  Maria Juarez represents thousands of our Army Reserve soldiers in 
Puerto Rico, serving in our home front as part the largest U.S. Army 
command in the Caribbean, in the best tradition of service of Puerto 
Ricans in the U.S. military for more than a century. She also 
represents the high achievement of our women in uniform, breaking 
barriers and proving they are a priceless resource for the preparedness 
of our Armed Forces.
  As she enters the next stage in her military career as a Brigadier 
General, I congratulate Maria A. Juarez and I know she will continue to 
reach great achievements. As the Representative from Puerto Rico and 
Co-Chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus, I am especially proud to 
be able to offer this recognition and to hold forth her example for 
young women at home and across the nation of what is possible with 
commitment, effort and dedication.

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