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2018 SESSION

18100147D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 64
Offered January 10, 2018
Celebrating the life of Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Scott Voelkel, USA.
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Patrons-- Reeves, Barker, Black, Carrico, Chafin, Chase, Cosgrove, Dance, Deeds, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hanger, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McDougle, McPike, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Petersen, Ruff, Saslaw, Spruill, Stanley, Stuart, Sturtevant, Suetterlein, Surovell, Vogel, Wagner and Wexton
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WHEREAS, Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Scott Voelkel, USA, a decorated combat engineer with more than three decades of military experience and a respected member of the Frederick County community, died on July 21, 2017; and

WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., Jeffrey “Jeff” Voelkel graduated from Brentsville District High School in Prince William County and attended Clinch Valley College and Northern Virginia Community College; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of service to the nation, Jeff Voelkel enlisted in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1980s; he was assigned to the 317th Engineer Battalion in Germany, where his exceptional leadership abilities quickly became apparent; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Voelkel went on to join the Virginia Army National Guard and became a squad leader in the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion; he was selected to attend the Sapper Leader Course at Fort Leonard Wood, where he maintained the highest points average in the class, finishing as the honor graduate; and

WHEREAS, when B Company of the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion was selected to deploy to Bosnia in 1998, Jeff Voelkel served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Warrenton Readiness Center and was rated as the top squad leader in the battalion; and

WHEREAS, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Jeff Voelkel deployed to Washington, D.C., to provide security in support of Operation Noble Eagle; he later deployed to Iraq, where he reorganized a combat engineer platoon into a security forces squad that conducted area security operations, recovery operations, and civil military engagement missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Voelkel was then selected to help prepare soldiers for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan at Fort Dix in New Jersey; he was responsible for area security and base defense lanes, ensuring the safety of countless service members, civilian employees, and contractors; and

WHEREAS, in addition to training 8,000 mobilizing soldiers and mentoring 90 platoon sergeants and platoon leaders, Jeff Voelkel continued to fulfill his commitments to the Virginia Army National Guard; in 2011, he redeployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn; and

WHEREAS, throughout his military career, Jeff Voelkel was a trusted mentor to his fellow engineers and helped many soldiers in crisis stay focused and motivated through tough times prior to deployments or during the transition back to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, on December 1, 2015, Jeff Voelkel was appointed as the first command sergeant major of the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Fredericksburg, setting high standards for all future command sergeant majors; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his 30 years of service to the combat engineer community as a leader and trainer, Jeff Voelkel received the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal from the Army Engineer Association in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Voelkel earned several other awards and accolades for his unparalleled leadership and tireless service, including the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, and multiple Army Commendation Medals and Army Achievement Medals; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Voelkel will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife of 24 years, LaTasha; children, Jazmyne, Andrew, and Trevor; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Scott Voelkel, USA, who made countless contributions to the Commonwealth and the United States; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Scott Voelkel, USA, as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.