By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

A RETIRED three-star general who served in the Vietnam War was appointed as the governor’s special advisor for military affairs.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has asked retired Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson to work with the CNMI Military Task Force.
Asked how much the cash-strapped government will pay Gregson, Reyes said to “check with (the Department of) Finance.”
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968, Gregson served in the Marine Corps for 37 years before retiring in 2005.
Gregson also served as assistant operations officer, or J-3A, in Unified Task Force Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.
He has commanded an infantry company; Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division; 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; 7th Marine Regiment; and the 3rd Marine Division.
He most recently served as the commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force; commander, Marine Corps Bases, Japan; and commander, Marine Forces, Japan.
Gregson will work with the members of the CNMI Military Task Force, which include Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, Triple J’s Robert Jones, Duty Free Shop president Marian Aldan-Pierce, Microl’s Douglas Brennan, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands chairwoman Lynn Knight, and Rep. Absalon Waki Jr., Covenant-Saipan and chairman of the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Relations.
The other members of the task force are Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, Department of Public Lands Secretary John S. Del Rosario Jr., and Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Ike Dela Cruz.
Reyes said the governor formed the task force to help the CNMI meet the needs of the U.S. military expansion in the Marianas.
“The Military Task Force was set up to ensure the CNMI meets the needs of the U.S. military in region, ensure that the U.S. military will harmoniously co-exist with the civilian population, and expand U.S. military economic benefits to the islands,” said the Office of the Governor in a statement released to the media.
“Given General Gregson’s distinguished military service and familiarity with the U.S. armed forces, Governor Fitial expects many positive benefits from the general’s involvement in the governor’s military task force,” it added.