Mike Waltz
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the American Samoa Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is applauding the nomination of her colleague Congressman Mike Waltz of Florida, a former Green Beret, as National Security Advisor.
Reps. Amata and Waltz serve together on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. Congressman Waltz also works directly on national security issues as part of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Armed Services Committee.
“Congressman Waltz has an exceptional range of experience and is a strong addition to the President’s national security team,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “He is the first Green Beret elected to Congress, where we will certainly miss him, but his knowledge and background will be a greater asset to the country as National Security Advisor.”
Congressman Waltz served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Green Berets, after graduating Ranger School. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. A combat Veteran, Waltz was decorated with four Bronze Stars, including two for valor.
He continues to serve in the Army National Guard where he holds the rank of colonel.
Waltz has worked in defense policy roles at the Pentagon under Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates, and worked at the White House as the counterterrorism adviser to the vice president. He is a published author, and served several terms in Congress.
CIA nomination
Congresswoman Amata also lauded the nomination of Congressman John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.
“He has experience as a former director of National Intelligence. We know the Pacific region is important to our national intelligence analysis and our national security strategies. Congressman Ratcliffe will work well with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard,” Amata said.
NATO ambassador designate
Amata likewise praised the nomination of former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as U.S. ambassador to NATO.
He “will clearly represent President Trump to our NATO allies, and work well with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Defense leadership,” said Congresswoman Amata.
“Several of our closest NATO allies have key Pacific roles as well, including France, and the U.K. as part of AUKUS, while strategic interests regarding the CCP are worldwide, with NATO placing a growing emphasis on Pacific engagement.”
