[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7246-S7247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR NICHOLAS J. STOKELY

  Mr. OSSOFF. Madam President, today it is with great pleasure that I 
honor a superb Army noncommissioned officer and legislative liaison. 
After 2 years of exemplary service with the Army Office of the Chief, 
Legislative Liaison, SGM Nicholas J. Stokely was selected to serve as 
the next battalion command sergeant major for the 96th Civil Affairs 
Battalion, Special Operations (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, NC. He is no 
stranger to positions of trust and authority as he currently serves as 
the legislative assistant to the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army. He 
will assume responsibility for this new position in June.
  On this occasion, I believe it is appropriate to recognize Sergeant 
Major Stokely's distinguished 25-year career spent serving the 
interests of the American people, whether here in the halls of Congress 
or out in the field with his boots on the ground. He is a native of 
Fountain Inn, SC. It is there that he first began his military service 
as an infantryman in the South Carolina National Guard in 1997. 
Sergeant Major Stokely enlisted in the Active-Duty Army in February 
2002 and served in numerous leadership positions while stationed at 
Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State.
  In 2006, he donned the iconic hat of the U.S. Army drill sergeant, 
helping train young men and women in preparation for the rigors of 
serving in the Army. Sergeant Major Stokely has excelled in every job 
the Army has asked him to take on, and true to form, he was selected as 
the 2007 Infantry Training Brigade Drill Sergeant of the Year at Fort 
Benning, GA. This is indicative of how he approaches his job.
  In 2009, Sergeant Major Stokely began a new chapter in his career by 
completing the Civil Affairs Specialist Course at Fort Bragg and 
joining the ranks of Special Forces operators. He subsequently served 
in every leadership position possible while assigned to the 95th Civil 
Affairs Brigade. He then went on to serve as an instructor and course 
manager at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and 
School.
  It is clear the Army has consistently relied upon Sergeant Major 
Stokely for his exceptional leadership. He has deployed on numerous 
occasions in support of America's national defense. Sergeant Major 
Stokely has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring 
Freedom, the European Reassurance Initiative, and European Deterrence 
Initiative with multiple tough assignments within Special Operations 
units across the Asian and European continents.
  In 2019, Sergeant Major Stokely arrived on Capitol Hill, serving as 
the defense fellow for Representative Jason Crow of Colorado's Sixth 
District. From there, he did exceptional work liaising on the Army's 
Senate Liaison Division staff before his selection as a legislative 
assistant. In each of these positions, his primary responsibility was 
to help continue and strengthen Army relationships across Congress.

[[Page S7247]]

Over the past 2 years, Sergeant Major Stokely has traveled all over the 
world leading congressional and staff delegations doing just that.
  Now, he will continue his distinguished Army career, returning to 
lead men and women. I am thankful for his service and sacrifice. On 
behalf of Congress, I wish him, his wonderful wife Kritina, and three 
beautiful children Cody, Cailynn, and Kinslee all the best.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S7247, December 15, 2022, in the first column, the 
following appears: Now, he will continue his distinguished Army 
career, returning to lead men and women. I am thankful for his 
service and sacrifice. On behalf of Congress, I wish him, his 
wonderful wife Kristina, and three beautiful children Cody, 
Cailynn, and Kinslee all the best.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Now, he will 
continue his distinguished Army career, returning to lead men and 
women. I am thankful for his service and sacrifice. On behalf of 
Congress, I wish him, his wonderful wife Kritina, and three 
beautiful children Cody, Cailynn, and Kinslee all the best.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 




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