[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E14-E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER FOUR WILLIAMS (WILL) ANAAB

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2024

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Chief Warrant Officer Four, Williams ``Will'' Anaab who served as a 
Department of Defense Fellow in my office throughout 2023. Last month, 
he concluded his work with my office, and I would like to thank him for 
his dedication and service to the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 
Second Congressional District. In fact, the impact of his work extended 
far beyond the geographical confines of my district and Georgia.
  He was my lead staffer in organizing the Congressional Military 
Family Caucus 2023 Summit. This annual, bipartisan event, which I co-
host with my caucus co-chair, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of 
Washington and which alternates between Fairchild Air Force Base in 
Washington State and Fort Moore in Georgia. Will led the charge to 
organize last year's event which took place in March at the National 
Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Bringing together federal 
department and agency service providers as well as stakeholder groups 
like Blue Star Families, he created a forum through which we could 
learn from the insight and experiences of our servicemembers and their 
families as well as discuss ways in which Congress and the Federal 
Government may improve their quality of life.
  He also became intimately familiar with the nuances and needs of 
Georgia's military family and veteran communities. Working with my 
constituent services staff in district, he diligently and 
compassionately strove to ensure that our federal departments and 
agencies were doing their utmost to provide the services and benefits 
servicemembers have earned in defense of our country.
  Georgia is home to more than a dozen military bases and 
installations. They are a vibrant part of our great state's fabric and 
crucial to our national security. My district, alone, is home to three 
of these installations--Fort Moore outside of Columbus, Robins Air 
Force Base outside of Warner Robins, and Marine Corps Logistics Base in 
Albany. Will was a stalwart advocate for them and was true to the 
spirit of my office, working in a bicameral, bipartisan fashion to 
ensure Congress supported these military installations, the programs 
they house, and the troops as well as civilians who keep them 
operational and at the ready.
  Will also helped facilitate a community forum that I hosted for 
municipal leaders and airport administers in Thomas County and the 
surrounding areas to discuss with the Department of Defense concerns 
about the effects of operations at Moody Air Force Base on local air 
travel. His work helped bring people to the table, ensure greater 
understanding and appreciation for the challenges each side faces, and 
created better lines of communication that I will continue to foster in 
the years ahead.
  The Army Corps of Engineers plays a vital role in Middle and 
Southwest Georgia and the waterways under its care play a huge role in 
the well-being of the counties and communities--from Bainbridge to 
Albany and all of the communities along the Apalachicola, 
Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers. Will quickly immersed himself into the 
issues of local concern that involved the Army Corps of Engineers, and 
his work was instrumental in helping me bridge the divide between 
residents, local community leaders, and the Army Corps of Engineers to 
find solutions to the challenges they face.
  While my office has hosted many Department of Defense Fellows over 
the years, this is the first time that the program has included Warrant 
Officer participants, and I can say with absolute certainty that the 
program is better for this. My colleagues and I can only benefit from 
adding the unique perspective that our Warrant Officers have and 
bringing their experience to the work we do in Congress.
  Will demonstrated an extraordinary ability to grasp complex issues 
quickly. His calm and poised demeanor allowed him to thrive in the 
fast-paced political environment of our nation's

[[Page E15]]

capital. He became known for his charm and he cultivated a beloved 
reputation as a smooth operator.
  His contributions to our national security are immeasurable, and I am 
immensely proud to have had him on my team. Undoubtedly, his future 
endeavors will continue to serve our great Nation with distinction.
  It is with great pride that, today, I was able to join Will for his 
promotion ceremony to Chief Warrant Officer Four. I want to extend my 
heartfelt congratulations to him as he ascends to this new rank and 
thank him for his continued service to our country.
  I, and my whole staff, appreciate the positive and uplifting spirit 
Will Anaab brought to the office. I wish him all the best in his next 
endeavors.

                          ____________________