Major General (Ret.) Angela Salinas named to board of directors of Young Marines

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The members of the board of directors of the Young Marines, a national youth organization, announce a new board member, Major General Angela (Angie) Salinas, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired).

“Angie Salinas not only provides an executive perspective but also non-profit board experience,” said William L. Smith, chair of the board of directors of the Young Marines. “In addition to her amazing military career which includes serving as the Commanding General Western Recruiting Regional/MCRD San Diego and many military awards, she has been recognized by the U.S. Congress receiving the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Leadership Award and Lifetime Achievement awards from both Latina Style Magazine and North Star. Angie is a welcomed addition to the Board of Directors.”

Salinas began her military career as an enlisted Marine in May 1974, earned her commission through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1977 and retired in 2013, after 39 years as a Marine.

At the time of her retirement, she earned the distinction as the longest serving woman in the history of the Marine Corps, the senior ranking woman, and the senior ranking Hispanic in the Corps. She commanded at every rank from Lieutenant to general officer and held multiple key staff positions throughout her career.

She is only the sixth woman in the history of the Marine Corps selected to the general officer ranks. She was the first woman to command a Recruiting District; the first woman assigned as an Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy of a major combatant organization; the first woman to command a Recruiting Station in 1986; and the first woman assigned as a Ground Major’s Combat Service Support Monitor.

“General Salinas will bring an interesting perspective to the Young Marines Board of Directors,” said Mike Kessler, national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Her years of experience notwithstanding, her current position with the Girl Scout organization will add a new dimension to our business model and provide insight on how other youth organizations are managed.”

She received her bachelor of arts degree from Dominican College of San Rafael, California; her master of arts degree from the Naval War College; and she is a graduate of the Army War College, the College of Command and Staff, Naval War College and the Amphibious Warfare School.

Her personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with gold star; the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; the Army Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars.

Her civilian awards and accolades include the U. S. Hispanic Leadership Institute’s Dr. Hank Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award; the Hispanic Heritage of Texas Estrella’s de Texas; Lifetime Achievement awards from Latina Style Magazine and North Star; the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Leadership Award; San Diego’s Athena Chairman’s Award for Community Leadership. She has been named Women of the Year for California District 74, named one of six women who move the city by San Diego Magazine and one of 15 Phenomenal Women by Latina Magazine.

Salinas is a 2014-2015 Masters Leadership Program participant and currently serves on the board of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. She is also the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. She serves on the First Tee of San Antonio, the local chapter of an international youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

She resides in San Antonio Texas.

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines’ humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 300 units with 11,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at YoungMarines.com.