STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3278

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 599, 600, 652, 653, 654

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 599, 600, 652, 653, and 654, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Advisory Board On Veterans' Services

 

G.M. No. 599

BRIDGET KOMINE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2017;

 

G.M. No. 600

HAROLD BUGADO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 652

ANN GREENLEE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 653

CHELSEA FERNANDEZ,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and

 

G.M. No. 654

WILLIAM PARK,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Bridget Komine, Harold Bugado, Ann Greenlee, Chelsea Fernandez, and William Park to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

BRIDGET KOMINE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Bridget Komine from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services, and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Komine's experience, background, and commitment to serving veterans qualify her for consideration for appointment to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.  Ms. Komine served in the United States Air Force and Hawaii Air National Guard for more than thirty years, and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant.  Currently, she is the Assistant Director of the United States Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service, for Hawaii and Guam.  In that capacity, she has helped to develop and sustain the Hawaii Hires Heroes program to ensure that veterans seeking job opportunities are connected with veteran-friendly employers.  Additionally, Ms. Komine has served on the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services as an interim appointee and has attended each monthly meeting.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Komine's past military service, as well as her continued support of and commitment to serving veterans, will be great assets to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

HAROLD BUGADO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Harold Bugado from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services, and seven individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Bugado's experience, background, and commitment to serving veterans qualify him for consideration for reappointment to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.  Mr. Bugado is a former Captain in the United States Air Force who was awarded the Air Medal for his service in the Vietnam Conflict.  After leaving the armed forces, Mr. Bugado was employed with the County of Hawaii, Parks and Recreation Department, Elderly Activities Division for thirty-six years.  For twenty of those years, he served as the Operations Director of the Division, during which time he headed six major senior programs throughout the County of Hawaii and received numerous accolades for his leadership and work in the community.  Additionally, Mr. Bugado has been a valuable member of the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services during his first term.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Bugado's past military experience, as well as his extensive record of public service and commitment to serving veterans, will continue to be great assets to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

ANN GREENLEE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Ann Greenlee from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services, and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Greenlee's experience, background, and commitment to serving veterans qualify her for consideration for reappointment to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.  Ms. Greenlee is a retired Brigadier General with over thirty-two years of military service.  Currently, Ms. Greenlee is the Director of the United States Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service, for Hawaii and Guam, where her leadership and diligent efforts have resulted in a drop in the unemployment rate for veterans in Hawaii from over eight percent to an all-time low of 5.3 percent.  Additionally, Ms. Greenlee is serving as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Greenlee's past military service, long history of commitment to serving veterans, and leadership as Chairperson of the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services will continue to be great assets to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

CHELSEA FERNANDEZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Chelsea Fernandez from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services, and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Fernandez's experience, background, and commitment to serving veterans qualify her for consideration for reappointment to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.  Ms. Fernandez is a veteran of the United States Army Reserve and has served a tour of duty in Iraq.  Since leaving the armed forces, Ms. Fernandez has held positions in the private professional sector, as well as being a member of the Hawaii Military Women Veterans Task Force and Na Koa Kahiko Wahine – Military Women's Organization.  Additionally, she has served a term on the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services, where she represented veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are readjusting to civilian life.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Fernandez's past military service, as well as her continued support of and commitment to serving veterans, will continue to be great assets to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

WILLIAM PARK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of William Park from the Department of Defense; Office of Veterans' Services; Papa Ola Lokahi, Inc.; The Spoehr Foundation; Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans; and seven individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Park's experience, background, and commitment to serving veterans qualify him for consideration for reappointment to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.  Mr. Park is a veteran who served more than twenty years in the United States Army and later the Hawaii Army National Guard.  After leaving the armed forces, Mr. Park did extensive work on programs centered on assisting veterans at organizations such as Helping Hands Hawaii and Papa Ola Lokahi.  Additionally, he has served a term as the Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Park's past military service, previous leadership of the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services, and continued support of and commitment to serving veterans, will continue to be great assets to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair