MOAA speaker to talk about JROTC
Maj. Bryan Williams, U.S. Army (retired), the senior Army instructor and department head of the Mariner High School JROTC Leadership Academy, will be the speaker at the Saturday, April 11, Cape Coral MOAA breakfast meeting.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Cape Royal Golf Club, 11460 Royal Tee Circle, Cape Coral.
The breakfast cost is $12 per person and is open to not only Cape Coral MOAA members, but also former and retired U.S. military officers and senior noncommissioned officers.
Reservations are requested by calling Cindy Nolan at 618-580-2368 or emailing her at capecoralmoaa@gmail.com.
Williams will speak about the Junior ROTC program in Lee County, and, in particular, the program at Mariner High School.
Before arriving at Mariner High School, Williams served more than 25 years of active duty in the United States Army as both a senior enlisted soldier (Sergeant First Class) and a logistics officer. During his military career, he deployed overseas numerous times to include two combat tours in Iraq.
Williams brings with him significant global experience and perspective. His career as a solider allowed him to travel to more than 40 countries. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and he was the Department of the Army’s 2010 Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award recipient. Williams was selected to the All-Army Rugby team three times. He was also the School District of Lee County’s New Teacher of the Year runner-up in 2019 and was selected as a 2021 Golden Apple recipient and the 2021 American Legion Post 90 Teacher of the Year.
Williams is highly active the community, particularly leading and mentoring youth. He and his wife coach a year-round competitive youth Air Rifle team together (seven-time state champions and the 2024 JROTC National Champion). He is a lifetime and active member with the VFW and American Legion, a board member of the Student Advisory Council, an appointed official of the Principal’s Advisory Council and volunteers countless hours leading his students in community service activities.
JROTC is a natural fit for Williams — he is a lifelong learner and a student of leadership. He was enrolled in higher level education for 20 consecutive years and achieved four university degrees, to include two master’s degrees (one from Australia National University) and numerous certifications. Williams said he aims to be more than a teacher to his students: “I want to be a coach, mentor and father figure for my kiddos. I bring all of my success and failures as a military leader, a dad and a husband to my classroom, aiming every day to change a young person’s life,” he said.
Williams’ most proud accomplishment is his family. He is married to a U.S. Army veteran, Marybeth, and they have two daughters. Elizabeth is a logistics captain in the U.S. Army, currently deployed to the Middle East; and Bethany is the owner of a gym and a personal fitness instructor in Henderson, Texas.
During their time off together, you can find them at the beach, cycling around Cape Coral or chartering their boat “Kalani” for their Cape Coral vacation homes guests.