Backgrounder on Captain Ulysses O. Zalamea
The most anticipated speaker at the upcoming 3rd Annual Pacific Islands Local Government (APILG) conference that will be hosted by the city of Olongapo on February 18-21, 2010, is Captain Ulysses O. Zalamea, the Deputy Director of the Joint Guam Program Office, who is in charge of the planning and execution of the redeployment of US military forces from Okinawa to Guam. Popularly referred to as “the US military Guam build-up,” the project will begin in 2010 and is expected to take more than 4 years to complete at a cost of $20 billion
Captain Zalamea, the US Navy officer in charge of one of the most important and biggest infrastructure projects in the Pacific region in the last 30 years, is the highest ranking Filipino American in the U.S. Navy.
Captain Ulysses 0. Zalamea was born on November 27, 1956 to Francisco and Narcisa Zalamea in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. Zalamea is married to Mrs. Jean Zalamea.
Captain Ulysses 0. Zalamea earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines in 1977. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Subic Naval Base in the Philippines on November 1977 and completed his basic training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California.
In May 1978, Zalamea reported to the Navy Recruiting District in Los Angeles, California as the Enlisted Programs Officer. Captain Zalamea attended Surface Warfare Officers School (Basic) at Coronado, California following commissioning via Officer Candidate School in 1983. He then served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Damage Control Assistant on the USS GRAY.
In December 1989, he returned to sea after graduating from Surface Warfare Department Head School. His Department Head tours included assignments as Operations Officer aboard the USS RACINE and as the First Lieutenant on the USS MOBILE. He twice served on the staff of the Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet asAssistant Plans Officer and as Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations,in August 1993 and again in March 2003 respectively.
In 1995, Zalamea attended the Naval War College and was awarded a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. After graduation, he returned to sea and assumed duties as Executive Officer of the USS GERMANTOWN. In October 1997, Captain Ulysses 0. Zalamea reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. and later, as the Surface Lieutenant Commander Assignment Branch Head.
In 1999, he was posted to the Pentagon where he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Politico-Military Affairs Branch, East Asia and Pacific. In April 2001, Captain Zalamea took command of the USS OAK HILL. In June 2005, Captain Zalamea reported as the Director of Armaments Cooperation Division at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. There, he is the Deputy Director for the Armaments Cooperation Division. Working closely with Office of the Secretary of Defense principals, he also serves as the U.S. representative to the NATO Committee for Standardization and the NATO-European Union Capability Group.
In May 2007, Zalamea became commander of the Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron Three of the U.S. Navy. In 2008, Zalamea was appointed Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO), responsible for the planning and execution of the $20 billion U.S. military redeployment and buildup on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Captain Ulysses 0. Zalamea has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal Award three (3) times, the Navy Commendation Medal six (6) times, the Navy Achievement Medal and various other medals and service ribbons.
“We are very proud of Captain Zalamea,” said Olongapo Mayor “Bong” Gordon. “He joined the U.S. Navy here in Olongapo back in 1977.
“He is the reason why many contractors are attending the 3rd APILG conference,” added Aurelio Pineda, overall director of the conference and president of the Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce, one of the organizers of the conference.
For more information about the 3rd APILG Conference pls call Mr. Aurelio “Bong” Pineda (Overall Conference Director): 09192471062
Prepared by Dean Alegado
3rd APILG Conference
Executive Director
Contact Phone Number: 047-638-4062/Conference Secretariat
Email: avpineda@subictel.com
GUAM BUILDUP UPDATE. Guam Senators, Mayors, Guam Buildup officials, contractors and manpower providers will be having a convention at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center(SBECC). You are cordially invited to join us on Saturday 20 Feb for the orientation/update at SBECC anytime from 8am to 5pm. See you at the Guam Task Force booth.
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