FRANK F. Blas, Jr.’s life has been dedicated to protecting the lives of others. A member of the Guam Legislature since 2006, Frank was a former police officer. Before becoming a senator, Frank was Guam’s Homeland Security Advisor and has led an extraordinary effort to protect the island, America’s Westernmost Frontier, from terrorist attacks.
He is credited for having built the Office of Homeland Security to what it is today, established lasting relationships with the US Department of Homeland Security and local military partners and opened the lines of communication among all law enforcement on Guam. Among other key achievements, his leadership led to Weapons of Mass Destruction Training to more than 5,000 residents and a SARS Response Plan that was so precise and effective, the US Centers for Disease Control adopted it as the national template and standard.
Frank started his public safety career as a police officer with the Guam Police Department where he served for 13 years as a patrol officer, homicide investigator, narcotics investigator, special investigations leader and drug investigations trainer. He taught criminal justice classes at the Guam Community College, educating students who were pursuing law enforcement careers. In his six years as a law enforcement teacher, Frank taught many of today’s public safety officers who started their careers at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA), the Guam Customs Academy and the Guam Police Academy.
He has dedicated himself to drug-free workplaces and increased awareness of the harm drug abuse does to our families. He volunteered a decade to the Dededo Drug Free Organization, now the Youth for Youth Organization, that teaches the youth against drug use. In his years of service, Frank has come to be known to hundreds of youth that he has helped as "Papa Frank."
Aside from his commitment to public safety, Frank has dedicated himself to caring for children. For two decades, he has been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping to make the dreams of children who are ill come true. He currently serves as President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For the past two years, he has led the Adopt-a-School Program and the School Recovery Task Force that has brought the community together to improve our children’s classrooms.
Frank’s dedication to and care for the safety and happiness of children and families is inspired by the love and warmth of his home. He is the oldest son of former Lieutenant Governor Frank F. Blas and Lydia Ada Calvo (deceased) and Ernestina Tenorio Blas and brother to Lynette B. and Antonio Bamba, Paul Andre, Yvette B. and Tomas Ananich and Y’ buena.
His paternal grandparents are Vicente Cepeda (deceased) and Beatrice Flores Blas. His maternal grandparents are the late Jose Leon Guerrero and Herminia Ada Calvo. His step-maternal grandparents are the late Antonio Pangelinan and Ignacia Dela Cruz Tenorio.
He is married to the former Tillie Carmen Reyes of Agana Heights who is a teacher at Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School in Tamuning. Frank’s pride and joy are his four daughters (Gina, married to Vincent Santos; Edeine, married to Francisco "Kiko" Camacho; Jennifer, married to Joayde Macaraeg; and Christine) and 10 grandchildren with Tillie. Frank and Tillie currently reside in Barrigada in a house full of toys and books for their grandchildren. (AJPress)
( Published July 28, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B3 )
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