ATEC equal opportunity advisor retires after 22-year Army career

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (April 1, 2015) -- Sgt. 1st Class Howard J. Norcross, Equal Opportunity Advisor for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command's Equal Opportunity Employment Office, retired after a 22-year career during a Jan. 29, 2015 ceremony here.

ATEC Commanding General Maj. Gen. Peter D. Utley presided over the ceremony and praised Norcross for his sound judgment, effective leadership skills, and ability to make decisions quickly and with precision.

"He knows how to hold Soldiers accountable and maintain discipline while putting the Soldier's welfare first," Utley said of Norcross. "SFC Norcross is a shining example of what can be achieved by working hard and motivating others as well as yourself."

During the ceremony, which was conducted before family, friends and colleagues at ATEC Headquarters, Utley thanked Norcross for serving his country selflessly, courageously, and with distinction; for remaining dedicated to a cause greater than himself; and for being a stellar example of what it means to be an Army professional.

Among those in attendance were his wife Roswitha; his two sons, Jean and Andre; his daughter Christina and her husband, Army Sgt. Jerry Hull, and their daughter, Jayda; his sister Tammy and her husband, Roberto; and his brother, John Norcross Jr.

During his remarks, Norcross thanked his wife Roswitha for being his rock during the past 22 years and for always helping him get through and work past whatever was holding him back.

He thanked his kids for supporting him through the early mornings and late nights, and the many training exercises and lengthy deployments. He praised them for being his strength in times of weakness and for supporting their mother when he was away hanging out in "war-torn towns or ocean-less beaches."

A Boston native and one of nine children, Norcross enlisted in the Army Reserves as an infantryman at the end of his junior year in high school in 1991. After his graduation in 1992, his active duty career began at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he trained to be a M1 Tank Turret Maintainer. During his first duty assignment in Schweinfurt, Germany, he quickly showed promise as a leader and was appointed Platoon Sergeant. Three years after his enlistment, he was deployed to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor in 1996, and to Iraq in 2004, 2006, and 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After serving nearly 17 years of dedicated service in the armored community in Germany, Norcross returned to the United States in 2010 for his next assignment at the Fires Center of Excellence in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Norcross recalled the noncommissioned officers who he had watched and learned from and whose leadership styles he had tried to emulate so he could develop his own.

"From some I received the knowledge to become the best Maintainer I could be," said Norcross. "From others I learned how to properly counsel Soldiers and NCOs, and how to mentor and teach those coming after me to be their best."

He expressed how grateful he was to have had the privilege of serving under them and how he wished he had been able to thank these great NCOs in person, but most had long since retired.

Norcross became ATEC's equal opportunity advisor in June 2011 and Utley credited his many years as a Platoon Sergeant for preparing him and equipping him to serve as his principal advisor on policies, procedures, and the goals of the Army's Equal Opportunity Program.

"Believe me, I couldn't have done it without him," Utley said. "His comprehensive understanding of the EEO program's wide scope was invaluable to me and this command."

Norcross' military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation Award, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanics Badge and the German Marksmanship Award.

In closing, Norcross thanked his senior leaders and the ATEC workforce he had worked with for the past four years for being a "fantastic" command team.

He thanked Utley for the honor of serving as his equal opportunity advisor; his Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald E. Orosz, for allowing him the freedom to run the EO program the way he saw fit; and his Chief of Staff, Karen L. Taylor, for being one of the strongest women he had ever known, and for always being there to listen and give him unwavering support.

He acknowledged the phenomenal group of professionals he had worked with in the EEO office -- Sgt. 1st Class Twana S. Burrow, whom he fondly referred to as "The Rookie"; Sylvia L. Core, "The Sane One"; Theresa M. Seegel, "The Warden"; Jody B. Jackson, "The Ever Humble and Reserved One"; and his EEO Director, Dr. Victoria A. Dixon, "The Calm and Down to Earth One."

"Together they make up a support cell that can work through just about any issue and find the answer to help anyone who walked through our door," Norcross said in praise of his co-workers and director. Norcross also lauded Dixon for being an amazing director, a fantastic teacher, and a wonderful person to work for.

Norcross, who will proudly profess to be a diehard collector of Star Wars memorabilia and a Star Wars movie fanatic, concluded his retirement speech by comparing Dixon and two of his co-workers to characters from his favorite movie series.

"While I am still just a Padawan Learner when it comes to EO/EEO, I am following the examples of the Jedi Knights, Sylvia and Jody, but always revering and turning to the Jedi Master, Dr. Dixon," he said. "Dr. Dixon, thank you for being my Yoda."

Norcross said he plans to take a much needed break after his retirement but will be returning to ATEC and the EEO office as their Disability Program Manager at the end of April.