Amata Congratulates Col. Le’iato on Command of the U.S. Army Finance Corps

Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is congratulating Colonel Robert L. Le'iato, now the 43rd Commandant of the U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller School, and Commander of the U.S. Army Finance Corps.

Congresswoman Amata's Chief of Staff, Col. Leafaina Tavai, U.S. Army (Ret.), attended his command ceremony on Tuesday at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

COL Le'iato

Congresswoman Aumua Amata said, "Congratulations to Colonel Le'iato! He is proud to call American Samoa home, and we take pride in his leadership and growing responsibility in the U.S. Army. He is another trailblazer in the military adding an important new chapter to our people's tradition of service."

COL Le'iato and COL Tavai (Ret)

Chief of Staff Leafaina Tavai said, "Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is a long way from American Samoa, so it was a delight as a Samoan and an Army veteran to be able to be at the ceremony with his family, and to congratulate him in person as he assumed command. His command of the Finance Corps is an impressive first for our people, and a milestone in a superb military career."

Colonel and family

COL Le'iato is married to his wife Rima and they have four children. He has deployed in support of operations in Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Baltic States since commissioning in 1997. He was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer, branch detailed to Armor, and transitioned to Finance.

Commander, US Army Finance Corps

A graduate of the University of Hawaii, he was the Distinguished Military Graduate of the ROTC, and holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Strategic Studies.

Ceremony

From his Army biography, he served in variety of leadership and staff assignments that include G8, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Director, Strategic Operations & Integration Cell, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller, Pentagon, Washington, DC; J8 Executive Officer and J8 Plans & Operations Officer, Allied Joint Force Command, Naples, Italy; Commander, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Sustainment Brigade, Fort Carson, CO; Comptroller and Chief, Requirements, Support & Transformation Branch, U.S. Army Special Operations Division, Pentagon, Washington D.C.; Chief, Proponency and Chief, Learning Innovation Officer, United States Army Financial Management School, Fort Jackson, SC; Executive Officer, 15th Special Troops Battalion and Commander, 4th Financial Management Support Unit, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, TX; Chief, Budget Branch, Command Budget Analyst and Program Manager, United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC; Commander, Beaumont Recruiting Company, Houston, TX; Commander, Bravo Company, 126^th Finance Battalion and S3 Chief Plans & Operations Officer, 18th Soldier Support Group, Fort Bragg, NC; Brigade S3 Training Officer, Mortar Platoon Leader, 1-36th Infantry Battalion and Tank Platoon Leader, 1-37th Armor Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.

Colonel Le'iato's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Recruiter's Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and Netherlands & German Foreign Jump Wings.

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