February 4, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- LT. COL. MAPU JAMIAS NAMED INSTALLATION COMMANDER FOR AMERICAN SAMOA RESERVE CENTER

      Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that Lieutenant Colonel Mapu Jamias was named installation commander for American Samoa effective January 14, 1999.

      "As one of the senior officers from American Samoa on active duty, I am very pleased to hear that Mapu is returning home for his next tour of duty," said Faleomavaega. "With Congressional support, the Army Reserve has continued to increase the strength of the reserve force stationed in American Samoa, and credit for this continued transfer of units from other locations to American Samoa goes to our Army Reservists who have performed so well in the past."

      "It was only a few years ago we had a captain as a unit commander, and now with two infantry companies and an engineering and maintenance detachment assigned to American Samoa, the Army has determined that a lieutenant colonel needs to oversee this entire operation," continued the Congressman. "Lieutenant Colonel Jamias remains an excellent role model for younger Samoans, and I am very pleased to recognize this achievement in his career."

      Colonel Jamias is being transferred from the General Staff for the 9th Regional Support Command and the Pacific Army Reserve. He received his commission through the Hawaii State Military Academy in 1976.

      Colonel Jamias holds a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Hawaii and a master's degree in general administration from Central Michigan University. He is married to Aloha Yuen and has two children, a son Mapu II, and a daughter Alohanani, who is a junior at Stanford University.