NETCOM CHIEF OF STAFF RETIRES

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz.,-- When humility was introduced alongside empathy as a necessary leadership attribute it helped more define what makes a leader. As stated in Army Doctrine, ‘A leader with the right level of humility is a willing learner, maintains accurate self-awareness, and seeks out others' input and feedback.’  And true humility from a leader was evident during the retirement ceremony for the Network Enterprise Technology Command Chief of Staff, Col. Timothy Norton, held on Fort Huachuca’s Brown Parade Field, May 8.

During the early morning retirement ceremony, under the bright Arizona sun, that was held with current COVID-19 social distancing rules enforced, the sparse crowd was indeed a humble send off to a great leader.

“Colonel Tim Norton is one of the most humble leaders I’ve met,” said NETCOM Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett, the ceremony’s host.

Barrett said most people think of the chief of staff as the leader who holds people accountable and has to crack the whip and takes care of all the stuff below the radar, “But the art of being the chief of staff is if you are always cracking the whip, you are never going to get the people to come talk to you,” but with Col. Norton, Barrett said, he could always strike the balance.

“You always had people coming into your office. And sometimes you would tell them things they didn’t necessarily want to hear, but yet they kept coming back,” said Barrett. “Striking that balance as a leader is a really important thing and it is a really hard thing to do. Most people don’t get it right, but you make it look easy,” Barrett said with a smile.

“I hope the leaders in this organization were taking some notes about how to do this because there are very few who can lead this way.

“Just this past year the Army added humility as a key leader attribute in our leadership doctrine,” said Barrett. “I cannot think of a more humble servant leader than the officer we are going to retire here today.

“I am most proud of the people that I have been able to invest time and energy into being able to assist Soldiers, NCOs, Officers, and Civilians in their careers - whether through mentoring or direct intervention…that is what has made this a great career,” said Norton when asked what he is most proud during his 34 years of service.

“In the end, it is a people based business - I am most proud when I get to see someone I have worked with or for or who has worked for me be successful,” Norton added.

Norton received the Legion of Merit at his retirement. “As the Chief of Staff of NETCOM, Norton oversaw all command support requirements and initiatives designed to provide a professional team of teams employing and securing a seamless strategic-to-tactical network,” the award stated.

The award clearly showed that it was his efforts that ensured NETCOM facilitated global command and control and enabled the Army’s ability to fight and win in a contested and congested operating environment while providing secure network support to all Army forces, all Major Army Commands, 6 Army Service Component Commands, and 11 Direct Reporting Units across 70 Army and Joint installations.

Those were words from others on what they saw as Norton’s achievements while serving as the NETCOM Chief of Staff. But, in Norton’s words, the credit lies elsewhere. When asked about his memory of his time as chief, he spoke of others.

“So many things stick out - but first is the professional staff that is NETCOM. Their ability to handle so many things, simultaneously, and without the resources required - amazing. The multiple fire teams, visitors, so, so, many events, the change of command. Learning two completely different CGs [commanding generals], 6 DCOs [deputy chief of operations], and three SESs {senior executive service], and all the while “doing day-to-day missions,” the colonel explained.