The Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu took to the social media on Tuesday to share the story of  Hatixhe Çollaku, an Albanian-born U.S. Captain, who commands the New Jersey Army National Guard’s only Military Intelligence Company.  Defense Minister described her success as a source of double pride.

Vengu said that Captain Çollaku shares her inspiring experience with military drill Defender Europe ’25, seeing cooperation with Albanian Armed Forces not only as a mission, but also as a reconnection to her roots.

Captain Çollaku said she was born in the north-eastern Albanian town of Peshkopia and moved to the U.S. in 1999 with her family through the lottery program.

“I moved to the U.S. in 1999 together with my family through the U.S. lottery program. “My family didn’t want me to forget the culture or the language, so we came back every summer,” she said. “After I joined the U.S. Army, I returned to Albania on missions too. My father served in the Albanian army, and I’ve always liked the military. When I started college, the army helped me pay for four years of school. I became an officer and stayed in because I loved the chance to give back, to the country I live in, and the one I was born in. I’m tied to both,” she said.

Her role in “Defender Europe ’25” brings her to work with Albanian troops in military intelligence.

“I enjoy working with the Albanian army,” she said. “This is a multinational exercise. Armies from across the Balkans and Europe are here. When I get the chance to serve abroad like this, it means a lot”.

Originally born in Albania, Çollaku moved to the U.S. at a young age and has been breaking barriers ever since. Her historic promotion as the first female Company Commander of the New Jersey Army National Guard’s only Military Intelligence Company marks a major milestone for both women in uniform and the Albanian-American community.

The exercise is led by U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), in coordination with NATO allies and strategic partners. It runs until June 9.

/j.p/u.sh/