Lt. Col. Allison Stephens, National Guard Bureau Public Affairs
Apr 25, 2023
Captain Omar Rosario of the Puerto Rico Guard has been awarded the inaugural Bilateral Affairs Officer of the Year award for his excellent work with the Dominican Republic. This award was announced by National Guard officials at the annual State Partnership Program (SPP) Conference, held from April 17-21, which was attended by Guard leaders, bilateral affairs officers and foreign partner delegates.
The State Partnership Program began 30 years ago with 13 partners and has grown to 100 partner nations. The Department of Defense program is administered by the National Guard Bureau and guided by the State Department’s foreign policy goals. It is executed by the adjutants general in support of the combatant commanders, the U.S. Chief of Mission security cooperation objectives and the DOD’s strategic objectives.
Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, director of Strategic Plans, Policy and International Affairs for the National Guard Bureau, expressed his gratitude to the awardees for their “tremendous efforts and work over the past year.” The awards recognize the dedication and hard work of National Guard members who contribute significantly to the country’s security and defense objectives through partnerships with other countries.
National Guard. “Guard names State Partnership Program partnerships of the year.” National Guard News, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/3372955/guard-names-state-partnership-program-partnerships-of-the-year/.