Celebrating Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas at Unanue Institute’s Ella Triunfa

In celebration of Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas, the first Latina Black Hawk pilot to shatter the glass ceiling as an inspiration that anyone can reach for the skies, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute is hosting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, A Fireside Chat with Lieutenant Colonel Marisol A. Chalas  followed by a Q&A in Bethany Hall, Room A. Registration is now open and highly recommended as seating is limited. The event will also be accessible via livestream, for those unable to attend in-person.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas for our annual Ella Triunfa event, highlighting women trailblazers in their respective fields. The first Latina National Guard Black Hawk pilot frequently cited by the Smithsonian, Chalas became a pilot when women made up a nominal percent of candidates and Latinas were nonexistent,” noted Lori Tarke, DHSc., executive director, Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, adding, “We hope this event will bring visibility to military careers and show our gratitude to all service members from all branches of the military.”

Encouraging the University community to attend is Latino Caucus founder and Unanue Institute student worker for all four years, Maria Elena Lugo, ’25. Lugo is a Diplomacy and International Relations major, with minors in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies.

Explained Lugo, former president, Undergraduate Diplomacy Student Association, and former vice president, Unidos Bailamons, “Lieutenant Colonel Promotable (LTC (P)) Marisol A. Chalas’ achievements are the proof we rarely see in the classroom. She represents what we cannot envision when we are down. She shows us that Latinas have already broken barriers in male-dominated fields like aviation, military leadership and STEM—and that we can, too.”

Lugo attends the School of Diplomacy’s B.S./M.A. five-year program with Graduate Institute, Geneva (L' Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement).

“After graduation, I’m returning to complete my Master in International and Development Studies. My specialization is Human Rights and Humanitarianism. We’re only Seton Hall’s second cohort to go and it’s been nothing short of amazing!”

About Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas:

LTC(P) Marisol A. Chalas, originally from Bani, Dominican Republic, began her military career in 1990 as an enlisted Soldier and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2001. She has extensive operational and strategic experience at various levels, including Division, Corps, COCOM and HQDA. Her international assignments include serving as Battle Captain and Platoon Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Aviation Liaison in the Dominican Republic and as an Exchange Officer with the Canadian Forces.

Her military education includes courses at the U.S. Army War College, Georgia Military Institute and The Institute of World Politics. She holds degrees in Marine Engineering, Business Administration, Legislative Affairs and Strategic Studies. LTC(P) Chalas is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

In addition to her military service, she has an extensive corporate career, holding senior roles at GE and Booz Allen Hamilton. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Air Medal and the Propeller Club Port of Boston Academic Award. LTC(P) Chalas was named Maritime Person of the Year in 2016 and received the USCIS Outstanding American by Choice Award in 2017.

LTC(P) Chalas has held key legislative positions, including Legislative Fellow for Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Army Congressional Budget Liaison. She recently completed a successful Garrison Command in 2024.

This event was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this event do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

To learn more about the Joseph A. Unanue Institute visit here.

To register for the Ella Triunfa: Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas event, visit here.

Categories: Arts and Culture