ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Whether it's "Old Glory," "Stars and Stripes," the "Star Spangled Banner," or "The Red, White, and Blue," America's national flag is a proud symbol of citizens united in duty, commitment and service to country. Nowhere is this more evident than in the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) where employees from all walks of life have dedicated years of selfless service in support of DOD goals and our nation's interests, so honorably.
Mr. William J. Soto, G3 OCONUS Unit Integration Team (UIT) Lead, CECOM is one such employee. Although now a Department of the Army civilian, Soto is also a 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force. During those years in uniform, he served as a Teletype-Crypto Maintenance Specialist, and as a Professional Military Education (PME) Instructor for the Airmen Leadership School. Thule Air Base Greenland; Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis; Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, Spangdhalem, Air Base, Germany; and Griffiths Air Base in Rome, N. Y. are among his varied assignments.
Those tours were no doubt for him, career stepping stones to greater growth and development. Now a logistics management specialist, he ties his military background, training and experiences to his current work ethic and program demands. "Based on my previous military experience my current career program just seemed like a perfect fit. The opportunity became available and I immediately accepted," he said.
Asked what influenced his decision to serve in government, Soto responded, "For me, it was a natural progression. It was never going to be enough to just earn a paycheck. I wanted to be involved in something I believed in. Even though I was not in uniform any longer, I still wanted to serve." With years of honorable service to his credit, Soto says that he continues to strive toward greater achievement and service.
Motivated to go above and beyond what he may be tasked to do, the Air Force veteran shows no sign of letting up on his commitment to make a difference. Addressing the question of what drives or motivates him to do the job that he does, he said, "If I were to sum it up, then I would quote President John F. Kennedy when he said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.' I like to think that I make a difference every day. When you stop caring, you stop trying. That's when you no longer make a difference."
Much like the selfless service rendered while in military uniform, Soto views his current role in civil service as an opportunity to give the Army his all. Indeed, it is a measure of responsibility that he does not take lightly. Toward that end he said, "Giving back is an important part of service. It's very important because we all stand to benefit when it comes to national defense."
Articulating his love of country on the one hand, while expressing his commitment to job performance excellence on the other, Soto had a stirring message for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get on with the business of serving--minus the ethical shortcuts. He said, "Professional ethics has always been a part of the Code of Conduct in the workplace."
The UIT team lead then added, "I'd like to take a few words from those of a great speaker and lecturer, Michael Josephson who once said, 'Compliance is about what we must do; ethics is about what we should do. Ethical people often do more than the law requires and less than it allows. The area of discretion between the legal must and the moral should tests our character. Noble talk and framed ethics statements are no substitute for principled conduct. The test is doing the right thing.' "
Summing up how he views his own character, and his desire to continue to serve with pride and distinction, Soto then added, "I just want to contribute as much as I can, for as long as I can."
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