NOTES ON PEOPLE (03/06/05)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Brigadier general at European Command

HAMDEN, Conn. - Brig. Gen. Y. R. Hladkyj has been the assistant political advisor (POLAD) to the U.S. European Command since March 1, 2003. As the assistant POLAD, he supports the political advisor who serves as a senior counselor to the deputy commander of the U.S. European Command.

Brig. Gen. Hladkyj is tasked with providing advice on issues affecting 91 countries spanning Europe, the Caucasus and Africa, and acting as an interface with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. embassies within this area.

Brig. Gen. Hladkyj was commissioned as an armor officer in 1973, after graduating from the United States Military Academy in West Point. He served on active duty in the Republic of Korea, Germany and the continental United States.

After leaving active duty to attend law school at the University of Connecticut, Brig. Gen. Hladkyj joined the Army National Guard, first in Connecticut and then in Colorado, serving in the infantry and then in the field artillery. During his career he has commanded a company, a battery, a battalion, a training regiment and a brigade, and has served in staff positions through the state level.

Prior to his assignment as assistant POLAD, he commanded the 169th FA Brigade, COARNG that was tasked with providing additional security at 13 commercial airports immediately following the events of September 11, 2001.

Born Yaropolk Hladkyj in 1951, he is the son of Irene and Alexander Hladkyj of Connecticut.

He was active in the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, served as a scout counselor in the New Haven chapter and became a member of the Khmelnychenky Plast Fraternity.

In recent years he has been a generous contributor to the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, helping to finance the publication of a prenatal health booklet and medical training conferences for Ukrainian physicians in Kyiv.

In his civilian occupation, Brig. Gen. Hladkyj is a business attorney and serves as the general counsel to Aeroflex Colorado Springs Inc. He established the legal department and manages all the legal affairs of a profitable, international, high technology company.

Currently, he is a member of the Global Advisory Council for the city of Colorado Springs, which assists the mayor and City Council in implementing international aspects of the city's strategic plan.

Two brothers promoted in U.S. armed forces

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Victor Petrenko, a field artillery officer, was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 1, 2004. Col. Petrenko graduated from the Naval War College in June 2004 and is currently stationed at Fort McPherson, Ga.

He serves as a chief of training for Army active duty, reserve and National Guard forces. Previously, he served an 11-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Additionally, Col. Petrenko's brother, Ihor, was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army on October 2, 2004.

Lt. Col. Petrenko is an aviation officer and is currently stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, where he works for the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Previously, he served in Italy, Turkey, Germany and Iraq.

Ihor and Victor Petrenko's father, Leonid, lives in Sun City, Ariz., and is a veteran of the Korean War. Leonid Petrenko retired with the rank of master sergeant and is a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 184.

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