Photo By Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman | Marine Gunnery Sgt. Laci Spencer earned recognition as the U.S. Marine Corps...... read more read more
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TAMPA, Fla. – Several service members from U.S. Central Command and Marine Forces Central Command were honored during the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Military Appreciation Banquet at the Tampa Convention Center March 4.
The chamber recognized service members for the contributions to the Tampa community and their services. Among those honored were Army Col. Paul Willis, USCENTCOM deputy command chaplain; Army Master Sgt. Valerie Ellis, USCENTCOM headquarters commandant office first sergeant; and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Laci Spencer, MARCENT company gunnery sergeant.
Willis is an active deacon and children’s church director at Providence Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla. He often speaks at high school and college organizations about his experiences during his 30-year career and what it’s like to be a chaplain in the military. He is also a volunteer at Hope Children’s Home, an organization that cares for abandoned, neglected, abused and orphaned children from newborn to 18 years old.
Ellis has been involved in a variety of MacDill Air Force Base and Tampa organizations including the General Schwarzkopf Foundation, Suncoast Chapter of the U.S. Army and Team Hope for the Warriors. She is the lead for producing a poker run motorcycle fundraiser hosted by Jim's Harley Davidson in St Petersburg, Fla., for VETSports, a nationwide non-profit helping veterans achieve better physical, mental, and emotional health through sports, physical activity, and community involvement. She is also on the executive board for the Professional Philanthropy Network of Tampa, an organization with the goal of connecting charitable professionals by creating networking opportunities and positive career connections for Tampa Bay area professionals while giving back to deserving charitable causes.
Spencer oversees the Professional Military Education for all enlisted personnel for Headquarters Company ensuring they are enrolled in the required courses for their rank and occupational specialty. She also volunteered to serve on other collateral duties within MARCENT including Single Marine Program, Combined Federal Campaign coordinator, and Uniform Victim Advocate.
USCENTCOM Deputy Commander, Navy Vice Adm. Mark Fox, served as keynote speaker, and expressed his gratitude to the city of Tampa for its continued support to the military community and optimism regarding the USCENTCOM area responsibility, comparing the violent extremist organizations to the Soviets during the Cold War. “Much like the Russian threat fell under the weight of its own corruption, these violent extremist groups will crumble under the weight of its own ideologies.”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2014 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 121655 |
| Location: | TAMPA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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