WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) welcomed Flint, Michigan, native Colonel Wayne J. Hallem of the United States Marine Corps to congratulate him on his recent promotion to the rank of full Colonel.  Kildee had inserted a statement in the Congressional Record on October 28, congratulating Hallem on the elevation to Colonel and recognizing his distinguished service to our country.  Hallem was promoted to Colonel by Lieutenant General Michael A. Hough on November 2, in a ceremony at the Pentagon.

“It was an honor and a privilege to meet Colonel Wayne Hallem today and I congratulate him on his promotion to Colonel,” said Kildee. “I have known Colonel Hallem and his family for many years from his time growing up in Flint and I am proud to see someone from my hometown serve his country with pride and honor.”

In Operation Desert Storm, Colonel Hallem flew approximately 60 missions in a ten month period.  After fulfilling his obligation, he volunteered to remain in the Middle East in order to allow married Marines to return home to their families.  “That kind of sacrifice represents the spirit of Wayne Hallem and why I am so honored to pay tribute to him today,” Kildee said in his floor statement.

Colonel Hallem made two deployments with the 15^th and 11^th Special Operations Marine Expeditionary Units and participated in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.  Currently, he is the Director of the Crisis Response Center, Marine Corps Operations Center, at the Pentagon in Washington and is also a commercial airline pilot for Northwest Airlines.  He is a graduate of Flint Southwestern High School and he earned a Criminal Justice degree from Michigan State University.  He and his wife Denise have three children.