An NCO Leadership Center of Excellence graduate and former contractor, Carlos Palma, departed the organization on Feb. 23 after working as a contractor, a Sergeants Major Academy Instructor and attending the academy as a student.
Palma served in the Army and was a graduate of Sergeants Major Academy Class 63 and later a graduate of the Penn State fellowship cohort 2. After a long career as a Sergeant Major he retired but returned to the NCOLCoE as a contractor in the Faculty and Staff Development Office (FSDO) where he worked to train and prepare the next generation of Army educators.
Before he departed he had a chance to bid fair well to some of his co-workers and share some parting words about his time at the academy and in the Army. He even attributed most of his success in life to his time and education at the Sergeants Major Academy.
“This next opportunity is not a coincidence,” said Palma. “The reason the border patrol academy is hiring me is because of the superior abilities and skills acquired at the NCOLCOE, the Sergeants Major Academy, and FSDO. Army education and training is the best and is highly sought after by other academic institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and by every other government entity.”
During Palmas long Army career, he impacted many Soldiers. One of those Soldiers who was impacted by him was Paul Blanchard, a current NCOLCoE civilian professional. The two men served together at the NCOLCoE as instructors.
“We were both in the Penn State Fellowship Cohort 2 in 2016. He always looked out for me and set me up for success, but pushed me to do my best at the same time,” Said Blanchard. “Carlos would always work until the job was done, even if he was in the office late.”
Palma said he felt very fortunate for all the opportunities that the Army has given him over the years. Some of which Include attending class 63 at the academy, the opportunities he had to interact with and influence Soldiers over the years and for the opportunity to be both a beneficiary and enabler of Army education. In his next position Palma will continue to serve the United States at the Border Patrol Academy where he will develop training and curriculum.