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New JGPO officials meet with NMI officials
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Posted on Jul 16 2008
Northern Marianas leaders met with the two new officials of the Guam-based staff of the Joint Guam Program Office yesterday.
A delegation led by Assistant Secretary of the Navy B.J. Penn made courtesy calls to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, the Legislature, and local business leaders to introduce retired Marine Corps Col. John J. Jackson and Navy Capt. Ulysses O. Zalamea.
Jackson will be the new permanent director of the Guam-based staff of the JGPO, which is facilitating the relocation of thousands of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. He is replacing Capt. Robert Lee, who has been acting director of the Guam office since it opened in October 2006.
Zalamea, who was most recently the commander of Maritine Pre-positioning Ships Squadron Three in the Western Pacific, will be the new deputy director of the JGPO office in Guam.
Rear Adm. William D. French, commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, Roy Tsutsui, U.S. Department of Defense coordinating officer for defense support of civil authorities, and Lee also came with group.
The delegation first met with Fitial, other administration officials, and the task force made up of government and business leaders who represent the Commonwealth in talks about the military buildup. A meeting with the Legislature followed.
In the meeting with lawmakers, Penn said the U.S. military is on track with drafting the master plan for the Marines’ transfer. He assured lawmakers that efforts will keep CNMI leaders informed about developments on the multi-billion dollar program, which includes developing Tinian as a training area for the military.
House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios reminded the military officials about needed improvements to Tinian’s infrastructure, including the island’s seaport, utility, and solid waste facilities.
“These things need collaborative planning by the military and the local government,” Palacios said in an interview after the meeting.
