People
Department
B.S. Accounting and Education, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. M.B.A Suffolk University.
LTC Marisol A. Chalas
Garrison Commander
U.S. Army Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Dublin, CA
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Marisol A. Chalas was born in Bani, Dominican Republic, and moved to the United States with her family to Massachusetts at the age of nine. She began her military career as an enlisted Soldier in July 1990. In 2001 she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch from the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School.
LTC Chalas has operations and strategic experience at the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) level. LTC Chalas’ international duties entail Battle Captain and Platoon Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Aviation Liaison in the Dominican Republic under a Combined Joint Task Force. Other assignments include Lean Six Sigma advisor, Force Management and Exchange Officer serving with the Canadian Forces in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and two rotations as Company Commander.
Her military education includes the Aviation Officer Basic Course, UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course, Aviation Captain’s Career Course, Intermediate Level Education (ILE), the Army Force Management Course, the Advance Operations Course (AOC), and the Strategic Fellows Program at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. LTC Chalas 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 in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. LTC Chalas is a certified Lean and Six Sigma Black Belt.
LTC Chalas has an extensive corporate career record with vast international experience. She worked for GE, where she held several senior management roles. She worked in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. LTC Chalas is a graduate of GE’s Nuclear Technical Leadership Program. LTC Chalas also worked for Booz Allen Hamilton as a Process Improvement Consultant.
Her awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hourglass/M Device), Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, FORSCOM Ironwoman Award, GEN George J. Hearn Trophy, Senior Aviator Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge. She is a recipient of the Propeller Club Port of Boston Academic Award. LTC Chalas was named Maritime Person of the Year by Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2016. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. LTC Chalas received the USCIS Outstanding American by Choice award in 2017. In March 2021, she was awarded the Medal of Merit by Dominican President Luis Abinader. LTC Chalas was also declared a Distinguished Citizen by the Dominican Senate and House of Representatives.
LTC Chalas served as Legislative Fellow for Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Minnesota District 4, in the United States House of Representatives. She later served as an Army Congressional Budget Liaison in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Financial Management and Comptroller (ASA-FM&C). She was responsible for Aviation, Missiles, and Chemical portfolios. LTC Chalas served as the Legislative Assistant to the 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Pentagon. She recently served as Reserve Schools Branch Chief at HRC, Fort Knox, KY. LTC Chalas assumed Garrison Command on 31 May 2022. LTC Chalas is a student at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Distance Education Program (DEP) member of the Class of 2023.
Education:
B.A., Anqing University; M.A., Nanjing University and University of Michigan; Ph.D. University of Michigan