STAND. COM. REP. NO. 826

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 573, 574

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 573 and 574, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Advisory Board on Veterans' Services

 

G.M. No. 573

CHELSEA FERNANDEZ,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016; and

 

G.M. No. 574

WILLIAM PARK,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

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

 

CHELSEA FERNANDEZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Chelsea Fernandez from the State Office of Veteran's Services, Hawai‘i Women's Military Veterans Task Force, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination of Chelsea Fernandez from the Maui County Veterans Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Fernandez is currently pursuing a Business Administration degree at the University of Hawai‘i West Oahu.  Ms. Fernandez received her Associate's degree in Business Careers from the University of Hawai‘i Maui College.

 

     Ms. Fernandez is a certified tax preparer and is currently employed as the office manager and bookkeeper at FernanTECH, Inc.  She previously worked as the district leader for Primerica Financial Services.  Ms. Fernandez has also worked as a collections agent for Penncro Associates, Inc.

 

     During Ms. Fernandez's military career, she served as a convoy driver and engineer with the United States Army Reserve, 411th ECB(H) Deployment.  Ms. Fernandez performed successfully as the lead vehicle driver for convoys in and around Baghdad, Iraq.  She posted guard for missions, helped protect other troops, and met with local Iraqi citizens to help them improve their living conditions. 

 

     Ms. Fernandez currently serves as a board member of the Iao Intermediate School Community Council and is a member of Hawaii Business and Professional Women.  In the past, Ms. Fernandez was a member of the Maui Lions Club and Maui Young Business Roundtable.  Additionally, Ms. Fernandez served as secretary to the Army Family Readiness Group of the United States Army Reserve Unit:  871st Engineer Company.

 

     Ms. Fernandez expressed to your Committee that she wishes to serve on the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services because she brings the experiences of being a combat veteran and a veteran spouse.  As a young woman, Ms. Fernandez hopes to represent the new generation of veterans, while also addressing unique issues facing female veterans with the recent changes to women's roles in the military.  She believes that young veterans and female veterans will be comfortable sharing their concerns with her. 

 

     Ms. Fernandez expressed that she will make strong connections with veterans in order to help them make a smooth transition into civilian life.

 

WILLIAM PARK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of William Park from the State Office of Veteran's Services, Papa Ola Lokahi, and twenty-three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Park received his degree from the Combat Medic School and Dental Laboratory Technician School of the United States Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.  Mr. Park received his Certificate of Completion from the Dental Technician Apprenticeship Program at Kapiolani Community College.

 

     Mr. Park is currently the Veterans Program Director of Papa Ola Lokahi, where he helps veterans navigate the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration application processes to ensure that veterans from past and current wars receive important services and benefits.  Mr. Park is involved with the "Uncles and Aunties" program, which provides encouragement and emotional support to veterans and their family members on every Hawai‘i island.  Mr. Park previously worked as a Veterans Specialist and Case Manager of the Intensive Case Management Team at Helping Hands Hawai‘i.

 

     Mr. Park is a disabled veteran and retired Master Sergeant with three years of active duty with the United States Army.  He served with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard for over twenty years in several capacities.  On June 20, 2007, Senator Daniel Akaka and the 110th Congress recognized Mr. Park with a "Tribute to Clay Park."  Mr. Park received numerous awards and accolades during his distinguished career with the military, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Service Ribbon, two National Defense Medals, and two Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons. 

 

Mr. Park has received special recognition from the Federal Emergency Management Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Honolulu Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office, and Veterans Administration of Honolulu.

 

     Mr. Park has also been active in several community programs, including Alu Like's special project, Ho‘oponopono (Hawai‘i Family Therapy) for Hawai‘i Veterans; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' training project for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Ho‘olauna (Introduction to Hawaiian Culture), and multiple projects related to traditional healing.

 

     For the past six months, Mr. Park has served as an interim appointee to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services, where he has worked toward improving several challenges facing veterans, such as access to benefits, health care, and cemetery systems.

 

     Mr. Park stressed to your Committee the importance that no veteran need be left behind and he intends to work hard to ensure that all those who have served honorably in the Armed Forces receive full recognition of their veteran status with all honors and benefits.  Mr. Park believes in the importance of addressing health and wellness issues not only of veterans, but also of veterans' families.

 

     Your Committee believes that Mr. Park will continue to bring valuable experience, knowledge, and leadership 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair