Retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell has returned to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) community.

"We were here for so many years as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, and as I Corps' Command Sergeant Major," he wrote in an email. "JBLM is a great military and veteran support area, and we are excited to retire here."

In fact, he and his wife plan on settling down soon in Lakewood.

"All three of our sons and their families reside in the area, so we wanted to be near them, their wives and our four grandchildren," Troxell continued, "and Sandra and I absolutely love the area."

The South Puget Sound region will be the better for it, as Troxell brings more than 37 years of military experience -- the last four of which were spent as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) and the senior noncommissioned officer in the Armed Forces.

Created in 2005 by Gen. Peter Pace, the SEAC position was created to advise the Chairman on all matters involving enlisted personnel in a joint environment.

Troxell served as the third SEAC from December 2015 through December 2019. He served under retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and current Chairman Gen. Mark Miley.

The current serving SEAC is Chief Master Sgt. Ramon Colon-Lopez.

With this top-level experience, Troxell plans on using his military service and experience to support those who serve and have served.

"My wife Sandra and I will continue to support veteran support organizations, military support organizations and Gold Star Family organizations," he explained, "as well as our current active-duty members and their families."

He went on to explain that he will use the experience and visibility that being the SEAC gave him to continue to advocate for the issues important to service members, veterans and their families.

To accomplish this task, he plans to use the best lesson he learned while on active-duty.

"It's all about people," explained Troxell, "and I plan on continuing to help people to grow and develop and reach their untapped potential to either be a better person, or to be a more productive part of our society."

During a mid-November 2019 visit to the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence at Fort Bliss, Texas, Troxell's comments made clear his attitude on leadership and how he views service and leadership.

"He advised the future senior leaders to be a part of every solution to every problem within their organizations," wrote Danielle O'Donnell in an Army publication.

This attitude of being part of the solution and a leader in solving challenge is apparent in his message to the JBLM community.

"I am a part of this Joint Base Lewis-McChord community, and Sandra and I are available to help or assist in any way we can to help our military, our veteran population and their families."