The Captains Council proudly announces the appointment of Colonel Marisol A. Chalas as Aeronautical Policy Adviserto its Advisory Board. Colonel Chalas is a United States Army officer and the first Latina pilot of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. She currently serves as the officer in charge of operations and training for the U.S. Army Reserve Aviation Command, overseeing more than 250 aircraft and 4,000 personnel.
Born in Baní, Dominican Republic, Colonel Chalas moved to the United States at the age of nine and was commissioned into the Army in 2001. She holds a distinguished academic record, including a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She later earned her commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch through the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School.
Her postgraduate education includes a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University, a Master’s in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
In her new role with the Captains Council, Colonel Chalas will contribute directly to the organization’s recommendations for advancing aviation policy in the Dominican Republic, with a special focus on aviation safety. Her previous experience as the Army’s Congressional Budget Liaison in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller (ASA-FM&C) will be instrumental in strengthening the Council’s understanding of legislative processes in both the United States and the Dominican Republic, ultimately enhancing national aviation legislation.
Captain Francisco J. Díaz, President of the Captains Council, along with the entire executive committee, expressed their sincere gratitude for Colonel Chalas’s willingness to join the non-profit think tank and volunteer her time and expertise in support of Dominican aviation.
