[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT COLONEL REINA ``REI'' SERINEO

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JAMES C. MOYLAN

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 12, 2026

  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel 
Reina ``Rei'' Serineo of the United States Air Force, a proud daughter 
of Guam, as she concludes a distinguished career in service to our 
Nation.
  For nearly two decades, Lt. Col. Serineo has embodied the very best 
of what it means to wear the uniform. She has served with distinction 
across continents and commands, in the air and on the ground, in 
moments of routine readiness and in times of real danger. Her career 
reflects not only operational excellence, but a deep commitment to 
leadership, mentorship, and the future of our Air Force.
  Lt. Col. Serineo entered the Air Force in June of 2005 after 
graduating from the University of Portland and commissioning through 
the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
  From the very beginning, she chose a path that demanded precision, 
judgment, and courage. As an Air Battle Manager, she became a master of 
one of the most complex and critical missions in modern warfare.
  Over the course of her career, she logged more than 2,000 flight 
hours aboard the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System with more than 
300 of those hours in combat and combat-support missions in support of 
Operations Enduring Freedom and Counter-ISIS.
  These were not abstract missions. They were real-world operations in 
contested airspace, where decisions made in seconds carried life-and-
death consequences for service members on the ground and in the air.
  Her assignments tell the story of a leader trusted at every level. 
Lt. Col. Serineo consistently stepped into roles of greater 
responsibility. She served as an instructor, a flight commander, a 
chief of standardization and evaluations, an assistant director of 
operations, and a director of staff. In each role, she set the 
standard, not only for mission execution, but for how leaders should 
treat their people.
  Most recently, as the Common Mission Control Center Functional Area 
Manager within Air Combat Command, she directed policy, operations, and 
training for the Battle Control Center weapon system. In this role, she 
helped shape the future of how our Air Force fights, leading teams 
across major commands, building consensus and vision.
  What makes Lt. Col. Serineo's career especially meaningful is not 
only what she accomplished, but how she accomplished it. She invested 
in young Airmen, modeled professionalism, and reminded those around her 
that Leadership is not about rank, but integrity and responsibility.
  Her educational achievements mirror that same drive for excellence. 
She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, completed 
Squadron Officer School, and obtained a Master of Public 
Administration. She is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College. At 
every stage, she prepared herself not only to serve, but to lead 
wisely.
  Lt. Col. Serineo's decorations, including the Defense Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf 
clusters, the Air Medal, and the Air and Space Commendation Medal are 
symbols of a career defined by impact. But medals alone cannot capture 
the lives she influenced, the missions she safeguarded, or the trust 
she earned.
  As she transitions from active service, our Nation remains stronger 
because of her. The systems she helped shape, the Airmen she mentored, 
and the standards she set will endure long after this chapter closes.
  I thank Lt. Col. Serineo for her service, her sacrifice, and her 
leadership. She answered the call in moments of uncertainty and danger. 
She carried responsibility with grace and she left behind a legacy of 
excellence that will guide those who follow. May the next chapter of 
her life be filled with the same purpose, fulfillment, and success that 
defined her time in uniform.

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