“Commissioning into the United States Army Signal Corps was a decision to join a family tradition. I’ve been proud to follow in the footsteps of great men, but even more honored to serve alongside inspirational leaders and allies. CSM(R) Bill Thetford has been a great mentor to me and countless others, and he continues to invest in leader development.
Bill began his Army career as a rifleman and served in every enlisted leadership position in the most elite units of our military.
So how did a conventional Army Signal officer like me end up crossing paths with Bill, let alone benefitting from his mentorship? I like to credit a little luck, some persistence, and a shared passion among a community of talented people.
We met through mutual friends and colleagues, Lyla Kohistany and Nicole Alexander, co-founders of PROMOTE, an organization designed to advocate for equality through mentorship of women serving in Special Operations Forces. They had recently stood up a mentorship program for senior leaders in Special Operations to mentor junior women who were just starting their careers in special operations. I studied and engaged in mentoring programs extensively, so the concept of formal cross-gender mentoring was exciting and the platform was solid. I was also new to the Special Operations community and eager to participate. Nicole and Lyla facilitated our connection and we dove in.
Reading Bill’s resume and hearing his name echoed with reverence in legendary stories among the toughest combat leaders was humbling. I was nervous as I dialed into our first call. Bill was serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the United States Central Command alongside General Joseph Votel, the two of them splitting time between their headquarters in Tampa, FL and defeating violent extremists across the most dangerous regions in the Middle East. Our career paths were so different, what could I possibly ask Bill that would make this relationship a meaningful investment of his time?
Minutes into that first conversation, I was immediately at ease. He was engaging, quick to laugh, and we shared a genuine connection and interest in leadership. Over the past three years, Bill has helped me prepare for and serve in my current assignment as the Battalion Commander of the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Baumholder, Germany. He helped me shape my command philosophy and volunteered great references and contacts. Despite his extensive travel schedule, Bill visited my unit in Germany and hosted a talk with our junior to mid-level leaders. He currently provides invaluable wisdom and counsel on how to build and maintain an effective relationship with my Senior Enlisted Adviser, navigate tough personnel issues, and engage the junior Soldiers and leaders in my organization. He and his amazing wife, Ali, linked up with my family for meals whenever we were in the area. My father and I were honored to attend the joint retirement ceremonies for Bill and General Votel. It is clear that both leaders walked the talk during their legendary careers and that their legacy continues in the next generation of servicemembers.
Professional mentorship requires a deliberate, conscious effort to maintain an open relationship of trust, honesty, and support.
Bill has always been available across time zones, schedules, and borders to listen and respond with candor. His investment in me is a constant reminder to be a resource that connects men and women to guide their success. I’m grateful to Lyla and Nicole for their leadership in launching PROMOTE, and to Bill for being a strong ally.
Here’s to paying it forward!”
Bill’s Story:
“I began my mentoring partnership with Heather McAteer in early 2017, when she was a Signal Officer in the Joint Special Operations Command, and we were both new members of the PROMOTE mentoring program.
Over the course of my 30+ years of service in the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated women serving in Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, Aviation, and numerous other branches. I have always been impressed with their achievements and contributions and have witnessed them gain the trust of their male teammates. Yet, I also knew the hurdles these talented women sometimes faced throughout their careers and I believed they deserved my support in overcoming those challenges.
I first learned of the PROMOTE mentorship program when I met Lyla Kohistany and Nicole Alexander in 2016 while I was serving at Special Operations Command as the Senior Enlisted Leader to General Joseph Votel. Lyla and Nicole’s concept of cross-gender mentoring within the SOF community proved very timely since we in U.S. Special Operations Command just implemented our plans to integrate women into all units and career fields previously closed to women, as directed by then Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
My mentoring partnership with Heather over the last three years has proved extremely rewarding for me as I’ve watched her progression from a signal staff officer into the very capable commander of the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Germany. Over time we have managed to stay connected through email, over the phone, and even a few visits when we can each arrange our busy schedules. In fact, Heather’s father Dan and my wife Ali have also met with us a few times socially so our professional relationship has now become more like a family.
Hearing of the current challenges Heather works through reminds me of the complex nature of leadership in today’s military at every echelon. When I had the opportunity to visit Heather’s command last year, it was clear she had earned the trust, confidence, and respect of her subordinate leaders. This came as no surprise as I’ve always appreciated Heather’s grounded, common sense leadership style and how she provides wise guidance to her Soldiers and their families.
Leaders in the Special Operations community often speak of the importance of a diversified work force to expand our operational reach and enhance our mission capabilities. For me the opportunity to mentor Heather and participate in PROMOTE is my way of continuing to serve SOF and the Joint Force. Heather is an outstanding leader, she is a Quiet Professional, and I look forward to seeing her future accomplishments… I’m proud of her!”