Secretary of the Army appoints a Falls Church, Virginia, resident as a new civilian aide

By U.S. Army Public AffairsOctober 30, 2020

Secretary of the Army, Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy, invests in Shawn Olds as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Virginia (North) at the Pentagon, in Arlington, Va., Oct. 27, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Harvey)
Secretary of the Army, Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy, invests in Shawn Olds as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Virginia (North) at the Pentagon, in Arlington, Va., Oct. 27, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Harvey) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON – During an investiture ceremony on Oct. 27, 2020, at the Pentagon, Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy appointed Shawn Olds a resident of Falls Church, as the new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Virginia (North).

“These are unprecedented times, and the Army is fortunate to have you in the community interacting with civic leaders, educators and business leaders,” said McCarthy. “There is a positive correlation in recruitment where we have positioned CASAs.”

CASAs promote good relations between the Army and the public and advise the secretary on regional issues.

Each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories have one or more CASAs to provide vital links between the Army and the communities they serve. CASAs are usually business or civic leaders who possess a keen interest in the welfare of the Army and their communities.

“I am honored and excited that the secretary selected me for this important position,” said Olds, a former U.S. Army Officer who currently serves as the co-founder and CEO of boodleAI.

“This is an important opportunity and I look forward to working with the secretary and other CASAs to strengthen the bonds between the military and civilian communities in the northern Virginia region.”

CASAs serve a two-year term without compensation. Terms maybe extended to a total of 10 years of service. The secretary may recognize a civilian aide as a CASA Emeritus after 10 years of distinguished service.

For more information about the CASA program, please visit https://casa.army.mil.