WASHINGTON –
Some legacies are remembered after a lifetime of service. Others can be seen while they're still unfolding. For Command Sergeant Major Octavia Williamson, the command sergeant major for the Land Component Command (LCC) District of Columbia National Guard, both are true.
“This journey has never been just about me,” said Williamson. “It has been about the people I have served with, the lives that have touched mine, and the countless moments that have forever changed my heart.”
When she took the podium for the final time during her retirement and Change of Responsibility (CoR), on July 22, 2026, Williamson was surrounded by peers, beloved family members, and a formation of soldiers guided by her impact.
“It didn't take long for me to realize that with everything she did, every action she took, every decision she made, she always had the welfare and well-being of the soldier first and foremost in her mind” said Brig. Gen. Craig Maceri, commander of the LCC.
According to others, she was profoundly dedicated and wore her heart on her sleeve.
“She loves soldiers and airmen,” said CW5 Robert Gibson, Command Chief Warrant Officer for the District of Columbia National Guard. “Caring enough to ask the hard questions and to help each of them solve both personal and professional problems.”
Williamson led the force through example. Throughout her 37-years of service, she held three military occupational specialties, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and held multiple leadership assignments - including being the first female LCC command sergeant major. Even today, she is working toward a master’s degree in business intelligence.
“As time passed, my purpose evolved,” said Williamson. “It became less about what I could accomplish personally and more about helping others discover what they were capable of becoming.”
With a passion for empowerment and fostering the success of those around her, according to leaders, Williamson is the epitome of a servant leader.
“The Army became so much more than a profession,” said Williamson. “It became my family, my community, and the place where I discovered my purpose, not only as a Soldier, but as a leader, mentor, and servant to others.”
When asked, Williamson describes the most memorable moments of her career as seeing the ambition and success of others.
“Watching someone discover confidence they never knew they had, seeing them earn promotions, overcome adversity, achieve goals they once believed were impossible, and eventually become leaders themselves,” she said, “that has been one of the greatest blessings of my career.”
A bittersweet retirement to a mark in history, her legacy will remain in the impact she's made on the formation.
“I leave this chapter knowing that I gave my very best to an Army that gave me so much in return,” said Williamson. “If my journey has made the path just a little easier for those who follow, then I consider that one of my greatest honors.”