Fort Bliss has a diverse mission set, including being the home station for the 1st Armored Division and the Army's largest training area. Wochit
For Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Williamson, Fort Bliss and the 1st Armored Division were perfect for wrapping up his nearly three-decade career.
Williamson, a 47-year-old from Weir, Kan., had been the senior enlisted leader for the 3rd Brigade for the past two years. He relinquished his position Thursday and will retire effective May 1.
Williamson said he is not feeling torn, bittersweet or any of the other emotions Army leaders often talk about when stepping away from a job they loved.
“I’m good,” Williamson said. “I had a very successful career. I’m surprised at the end of 28 years, this is where I ended up (serving as a brigade command sergeant major), but I’m glad I ended up here.”
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Williamson called the past two years with the Bulldog Brigade the “capstone” to his career.
Williamson, his wife, Tonna, and daughter, Peyton, grew to love El Paso and will stay here when his Army career ends in a few months.
“We really enjoyed the 1st Armored Division, really enjoy the community and like the area,” Williamson said. “What is not to like in El Paso?”
Williamson doesn’t have a post-Army job lined up but does have some feelers out, he said.
During the past two years, the brigade has been going almost nonstop. Shortly after he arrived with the Bulldogs, the brigade went out in the field for several months to train for a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., in April 2016.
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The brigade then deployed to Kuwait and other locations in the Middle East from June 2016 to March 2017.
“Really, the highlight was seeing the brigade, through all that, grow to what it is now,” Williamson said.
During the deployment, the brigade trained with Middle Eastern partner nations and served in a contingency and deterrence role. It was mainly stationed in Kuwait, but had elements in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The brigade showed they could get after it and do what the nation was asking it to do,” Williamson said.
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This was the first time that Williamson and his family had been stationed at Fort Bliss. He did not attend the resident course at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and instead did the nonresident course. As part of that, he spent about two weeks at Fort Bliss in 2009.
So, when the Williamson family arrived two years ago, Fort Bliss and El Paso were largely a big unknown to them.
“You think of the academy and the 1st Armored Division, but you really don’t get a sense of what El Paso is about until you get here,” Williamson said. “When you go out to do stuff or interact with the community, it is like you have been here your whole life.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Oliver, of Detroit, succeeded Williamson.
Brigade commander Col. Lee Magee said Williamson helped to lead the Bulldog Brigade "with exceptional professionalism and skill for more than two years."
"He is an unfailing leader who cares deeply about soldiers," Magee said. "He shaped and mentored every leader in this organization, including me."
David Burge may be reached at 546-6126; dburge@elpasotimes.com; @dburge1962 on Twitter.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Williamson
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Touro University
Awards: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star with V device; Bronze Star (two oak leaf clusters); Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters); Army Commendation Medal with V device; Army Commendation Medal (five oak leaf clusters); Army Achievement Medal (nine oak leaf clusters)
Family: Married to Tonna, from Waco. Daughter – Peyton, 21.