[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 108 (Thursday, June 27, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING COLONEL JOHN WILCOX FOR HIS SERVICE AS GARRISON COMMANDER OF 
                              FORT LIBERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2024

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Colonel 
John Wilcox as Garrison Commander of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and 
to thank him for his 25 years of dedication to the armed forces.
  Colonel John Wilcox earned his commission in the Military Police 
Corps in 1999 after graduating from The Virginia Military institute, he 
has undertaken numerous roles including Platoon Leader, Special 
Reaction Team Leader, Company Commander, and as a Military Police 
Advisor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007 Colonel Wilcox 
volunteered to join Special Operations as a Civil Affairs Soldier and 
later would deploy twice to the southern Philippines in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, returning as Company Commander 
and providing Civil Affairs forces across the Mindanao Province.
  Prior to assuming his role as Fort Liberty Garrison Commander, 
Colonel Wilcox continued his Civil Affairs service in command of 3rd 
Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Chief of Plans 95th 
Civil Affairs Brigade, Advisor USFOR-A, and Assistant Chief of Staff G9 
2nd Infantry Division. Colonel Wilcox deployed to Afghanistan as part 
of a NATO Special Operations Component Command as the Director of the 
Afghan Local Police Special Operations Advisory Cell and in 2021 was 
assigned Deputy Chief of Staff G5 for USASOC.
  Colonel Wilcox assumed Garrison Commander of Fort Liberty in June of 
2022. With 2,500 appropriated and non-appropriated fund civilian 
personnel, Fort Liberty is one of the largest and functionally complex 
garrison workforces in the Installation Management Command. In the last 
two years, Colonel Wilcox has implemented a number of improvements to 
municipal services, built upon relationships with local elected 
leaders, and has secured Fort Liberty's ready status as a power 
projection platform. Through his professionalism, dedication, drive and 
passion, Colonel Wilcox has greatly improved the quality of life for 
the nearly 280,000 people that live, work, or rely on Fort Liberty for 
services. Recently the base underwent a no-notice departure of the 18th 
Airborne Corps headquarters as well as the 82nd Airborne Division's 
deployment to Europe, both operations remaining agile and effective 
with the support and steady leadership of Colonel Wilcox. Additionally, 
Fort Liberty underwent repairs of more than 100 miles of roadwork in 
failing condition at 60 percent of the estimated cost, implemented a 
multiyear replacement plan for HVAC systems and Roofs saving the 
government upwards of $10 million, and established the ``Sunset Liberty 
March,'' designed to honor the installation's history and the sacrifice 
of fallen soldiers.
  The people of Fort Liberty are forever grateful for Colonel John 
Wilcox's vision and direction. Colonel Wilcox, his wife, Nellie, and 
their three children, Hannah, Aiden, and Lukas, will be deeply missed 
by this community.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the service of Colonel 
John Wilcox as Fort Liberty's Garrison Commander and wishing him 
success on his future endeavors.

                          ____________________