Captain Juan T. SALAS, retired from the Coast Guard, had served as the Deputy Director for Coast Guard Civil Rights.  He assumed this position in June 1996 after serving as the Deputy Commander, Coast Guard Personnel Command. Captain SALAS was the first native Chamorro to attend and graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1968 with a BS degree in General Naval Engineering.  He later obtained a Coast Guard scholarship to earn a Master's Degree in Personnel Administration from George Washington University.

      An expert in recruiting and marketing, Captain SALAS served as the Chief of the Military Recruiting Branch of the Twelfth Coast Guard District in San Francisco, California from 1972 to 1974. Additionally, he served as Chief of the Minority Recruiting Branch, Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC, from 1976 to 1979.  His last recruiting assignment was as Chief, Recruiting and Job Entry Division at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC, from April 1989 to June 1992 when he was responsible for all Coast Guard recruiting programs and directed a force of 280 recruiters nationwide.  He assumed command of the Coast Guard Marianas Section and Marine Safety Office Guam, from 1992 to 1994.

      Captain SALAS had an extensive and successful seagoing experience during his career in the Coast Guard.  He served on the cutters BASSWOOD (1968-70), RED BIRCH(1970-72), RESOLUTE (1974-76) and UTE(1981-1983). He assumed duty as the Officer In Charge of the Interdiction Operations Intelligence Center for the Vice President's National Narcotics Border Interdiction System in Miami, FL in 1983, serving in that capacity until 1986. He returned to Key West, FL in 1986 and assumed command of the Coast Guard Cutter LIPAN.  While aboard the LIPAN, Captain SALAS successfully directed the interdiction and seizure of 4 smuggling vessels carrying a total of over 20,000 lbs of marijuana and 5,500 lbs of cocaine.

      Captain SALAS has been awarded 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Coast Guard Commendation Medals, Coast Guard Achievement Medal and numerous unit and operational awards.  He is also an honorary AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE for the territory of GUAM and is a past president of the Guam Society of America in Washington, DC.

     Captain SALAS is married to the former May Camacho SANCHEZ from Barrigada, Guam.  Juan and May have four children.  Their oldest son, LT Matthew SALAS, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1996.