Recognizing Captain Anthony Williams, Jr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Anthony W. Williams, Jr. as he concludes his tour as Army Legislative Liaison in the Office of Congressional Legislative Liaisons. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Captain Williams attended Fort Valley State University where he graduated as a 2013 Distinguished Military Graduate. Today, Captain Williams resides in Albany, Georgia, and I am proud to call him one of my constituents.

Throughout his life, Captain Williams has attained an impressive list of educational degrees, to include a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Fort Valley State University, a Master of Science Degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a Master's in Policy Management from Georgetown University.

During his career in the United States Army, Captain Williams has served in several duty stations across the country where he was selected to fill mission-critical roles. His first duty station was Fort Campbell, Kentucky, followed by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the Pentagon where he served as a General Bradley Fellow, leading the Department of Defense in the Global Posture Executive Council's Military Construction Prioritization Process before moving on to the Office of Congressional Liaisons in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As a Congressional Liaison, Captain Williams was responsible for liaising with 72 Members of Congress and their staff, covering eight states and two U.S. territories. He was a key player for developing engagement opportunities between Army Senior Leaders and Members of Congress, and he promoted legislative objectives and programs with a unique style of his own. Captain Williams did an exceptional job at executing communications and logistics support for Members and congressional staff as they attended CODELS and STAFFDELS. In fact, he received exceptional acclaim from my colleagues for his strategic excellence and logistical attentiveness during their CODEL to the INDOPACOM theater.

Beyond his adept coordination and organizational skills, Captain Williams proved to be innovative in his approach to the role of liaison. He took the initiative to incorporate his own strategies and programming that left a mark on Army Senior leaders and Members of Congress with whom he worked. Following his roots as a graduate of Fort Valley State University--the State of Georgia's 1890 land-grant university--Captain Williams promoted and facilitated lines of communication with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Bipartisan Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Caucus. Through his ability to clearly define the Army message, Captain Williams was able to assist the caucus members with questions about national and international issues pertaining to the Army and discuss Army issues impacting the African American community.

Truly, Captain Williams' personal example, commitment to excellence, and exemplary performance of duty reflects distinct credit upon himself, the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, and the United States Army. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on this earth.'' Captain Williams has paid his rent, and he has paid it well. Undoubtedly, he will continue in his service to the American people in whatever role he takes next.

Captain Anthony Williams has accomplished so much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God and the enduring love and support of his wife, Courtney, and their three children, Trey, Journey, and Sydney.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in recognizing the tremendous contributions Captain Williams has made to help serve the U.S. Army and the American people during his career. We wish him and his family all the best as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

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