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JBSA News
NEWS | July 7, 2014

Army North bids farewell to deputy commanding general

By Staff Sgt. Corey Baltos Army North Public Affairs

The U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) team said goodbye to one of its own June 26 during a tattoo ceremony at the Fort Sam Houston Theater.

Maj. Gen. William Roy, Army North deputy commanding general, is leaving the team to take command of Joint Task Force-Civil Support at Fort Eustis, Va.

Roy arrived at Army North less than a year ago, assuming the position as deputy commanding general Aug. 1, 2013. Prior to this assignment, he worked at the Pentagon as the deputy director of operations, readiness and mobilization, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for operations, plans and training.

"Will (Roy) is the epitome of humility," said Lt. Gen. Perry Wiggins, commanding general for Army North and senior Army commander for Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, during the ceremony. "I told him when he arrived that it would take about six months to fully understand our mission, but he didn't believe me."

Wiggins went on to say that while he was saddened to see Roy go so soon, he was heartened because Roy will continue to be part of the Defense Support to Civil Authorities mission.

"Putting Will in command of that formation is the best thing for our military," Wiggins said. He went on to say that Roy has done, and will continue to do, great things in the Army.

Roy, who was commissioned as a field artillery officer in the New Hampshire National Guard in 1982, has commanded Soldiers at every level, from platoon to brigade, and has held key positions in the Army National Guard.

During his final farewell to the Soldiers and civilians of Army North, Roy said that he had hoped to spend two years here so he could fully understand the DSCA mission, but it wasn't to be.

"I spent more time learning about this mission, than I did working," said Roy. He went on to say that he looked forward to continuing to work with Army North as JTF-CS commander.

JTF-CS was established in October 1999 and is assigned to U.S. Northern Command. It is responsible for planning and integrating Department of Defense support to civil authorities in critical life-saving and life-sustaining operations during a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident within the United States.