Former FORSCOM Soldier returns home as a civilian SES

By John H. Satterwhite, U.S. Army Forces Command Public AffairsJuly 30, 2010

Former FORSCOM Soldier returns home as a civilian SES
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (July 29, 2010)--U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 William "Bill" T. Lasher is pinned by his wife, Lynn, with the official Senior Executive Service (SES) pin. The symbol on the SES pin represe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Former FORSCOM Soldier returns home as a civilian SES
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (July 29, 2010)-- U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 William "Bill" T. Lasher renders remarks after being affirmed into senior executive service (SES) Thursday, during his appointment ceremony ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Former FORSCOM Soldier returns home as a civilian SES
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (July 29, 2010) - Gen. James D. Thurman, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) commander, affirms Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 William "Bill" T. Lasher into the ranks of Senior Executive Service (SES) Thursday, during an appo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Former FORSCOM Soldier returns home as a civilian SES
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (July 29, 2010)--U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 William “Bill” T. Lasher is presented the Senior Executive Service (SES) flag by Master Sgt. Korey Carter. FORSCOM G-6 Sgt. Maj. Fabian Brads... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT McPHERSON, Ga. (July 29, 2010) - Gen. James D. Thurman, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) commander, official affirmed Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 William "Bill" T. Lasher into Senior Executive Service (SES) Thursday, during an appointment ceremony at FORSCOM headquarters.

"I'm honored to get to this level. The Army is a team "sport," and there are a bunch of folks who helped me get to this level." Lasher said. "It's been a combination of skill, teamwork, and luck for me."

In the Army, senior executives are the civilian counterparts of general officers. Some occupy the Army's top civilian management jobs, serving in position within the sustaining scientific and technical experts on whom the Army depends to achieve and sustain technical supremacy. These professionals are also the equivalent of Directors, Vice Presidents, and Chief Executive Officers (CEO's) of medium to large-scale companies in the private sector.

Thurman said Lasher's recently obtained SES status arrives on the heels of more than 33 year of service to the U.S. Army, which will be instrumental to his success in his new position.

"This is quite an honor and well deserved," he said. "I know Bill is the right man at the right time, and he has my full confidence.

"Bill has had a very successful career as a Soldier, and he has already shown great potential as an Army civilian," Thurman said. "With his significant experience and expertise, (one) should see why Mr. Lasher has been selected..."

During the ceremony, Thurman led Lasher in the oath of office, officially swearing him in as an SES, and presented Lasher with the SES certificate and lapel pin.

Also during the ceremony, Master Sgt. Korey Carter presented Lasher with the SES flag, which was designed to increase visibility to SES members and recognize them as leaders along with general officers of the United States Army.

Upon notification of his selection to SES, Lasher said he was happy about the opportunity; and though he wasn't familiar with the application process, Lasher said his help with the application process came from two old friends.

"I was helped along the way by a couple of great former SES's that used to work here; Mr. Steve Koons and Ms. Vicky Jefferis," he said. "They were friends who helped me a lot; they helped me with the application process."

"The Army is a team sport whether you're wearing a uniform or a suit. It takes a whole lot of people to make one person successful. I think this speaks of a lot of folks who have worked with me that have helped me along the way," he added.

In July 2002, then Col. Lasher was named as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 for FORSCOM. Now he finds himself as the assistant to the position to which he was once the principal.

After retiring in 2005 as a colonel from FORSCOM where he last served as the FORSCOM deputy chief of staff, G-6, Lasher worked four years as a program manager for the Army Reserve Network, Perot Systems Government Service in Peachtree City, Ga. During the ceremony, he said working for civil service wasn't really in his plans.

"It was a great experience; it was a real experience. I was on a contract that got turned over to another contractor, so I either had to have had to move to (Washington,) D.C., or come back to civil service," he said. "(Washington,) D.C. is not the first choice on most people's preference form, so I decided to come back (to civil service)."

"I had some great O-6s pulling on me to come back to FORSCOM, so I applied and was lucky enough to get chosen," he added.

In his closing remarks at the ceremony, Lasher explain that working for the Army's largest command is "hard work," however, the strength of FORSCOM is the power of its people.

"There is no glory running the tracks here at FORSCOM," he said. "It is hard work-trying to make sure we get great equipment, right training and proper level of readiness to all the units and Soldiers who go out the door. It is very tough government work and the people who do it (are appreciated.)