Up & Coming Weekly

December 15, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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10 UCW DECEMBER 16-22, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NEWS Gen. Lloyd Austin is well known in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg area by JEFF THOMPSON e nomination of retired U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to become Secretary of Defense in the Biden Administration doesn't surprise co-workers or politicians. President-elect Joe Biden has known Austin at least since the general's years leading U.S. and coali- tion troops in Iraq when Biden was vice president. Austin was deployed to command the Multi-Nation- al Corps-Iraq in 2008 while serving as commanding general of 18th Airborne Corps. As commander of MNC-I, he directed the operations of 152,000 coali- tion forces in all sectors of Iraq. Austin's service as a three-star general at Fort Bragg was not his only assignment at the local Army post. Soon after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, then-Captain Austin was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division where he commanded the Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry and also served as the Assistant S-3 (Operations) for the 82nd's 1st Brigade Combat Team. Years later, in 1993, Austin returned to the 82nd to command the 2nd Battal- ion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and later served as G-3 for the Division. Following graduation from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, then-Colonel Austin returned again to Fort Bragg and took command of the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne. "I served under Gen. Austin when he was the commander of U.S. Forces-Iraq," said retired Army Colonel Kevin Arata of Fayetteville. Arata said he did not work for Austin directly, but had "the opportu- nity to view his leadership style on many occasions. He always struck me as someone who exudes very positive leadership qualities." Arata was Chief of Public Information in 2011, in Baghdad, Iraq. If confirmed as Secretary of Defense by the Sen- ate, Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon. He also served in 2012 as the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army, the service's number 2 ranking position. As a career military officer who served 41 years in uniform, the 67-year-old Austin would need to obtain a congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary, exempting him from the legal require- ment that a former member of the military be out of uniform at least seven years before serving as secretary of defense. e law was meant to preserve the civilian nature of the Department of Defense. ere is some opposition in Congress who believe a clearer line should be drawn between the civilian and military leadership of the DoD. Austin has a reputation for strong leadership, integrity and a sharp intellect. When he retired in 2016, President Obama praised his "character and competence" as well as his judgment and leadership. He would not be a prototypical defense secre- tary, not because of his 41-year military career but because he has always shied from the public eye. Officials in the know contend it would be an under- statement to say he was a quiet general. Although he testified before Congress, he gave few interviews and preferred not to speak publicly about military operations. Board of Education swears in new members, selects leaders a STAFF REPORT For the second con- secutive year, Alicia Chisolm will serve as the chair of the Cumberland County Board of Educa- tion and Greg West will serve as the vice-chair. e Board approved leadership roles for 2021 during its regular monthly meeting Dec. 8. "I am humbled by the opportunity to continue serving in this capac- ity," said Chisolm. "is unprecedented year has brought many challeng- es, but we have worked together — as a Board, school system and community — to support the needs of the whole child. Despite the challenges, we will continue providing our students with a safe, positive and rigorous learning environment to help them reach their maximum potential." At the beginning of the meeting, Deanna Jones and Nathan Warfel were sworn in after winning their seats during the Nov. 3 general election. Jones, an Army veteran, served for 27 years. She is an active participant on various local and state education committees. Warfel, who received his entire K-12 education in CCS, is a South View High School graduate. He holds a law degree from the Charlotte School of Law and works in the Cumberland County Public Defender's Office. Board members Alicia Chisolm, Carrie Sutton, Donna Vann and Susan Williams, were re-elected to serve another term on the Board during the Nov. 3 general election. Charles McKellar and Judy Musgrave will con- tinue to serve as at-large members of the Board. JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Gen. Lloyd Austin Alicia Chisolm Nathan Warfel Deanna Jones Greg West Susan Williams Donna Vann Carrie Sutton Charles McKellar Judy Musgrave

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