Colonel Justin Williams: GHS New Distinguished Graduate by Linda Competillo
April 26, 2023
Tompkins Weekly Article: https://www.tompkinsweekly.com...
It would have been a bit of a commute from Mali, Africa for Class of 1993 Groton High School (GHS) alumnus Colonel Justin Williams, U.S. Air Force, to be present for his induction into the GHS Distinguished Graduate Hall of Fame at its annual ceremony on April 20. Thus, his mother, Dolores Williams, traveled from her home in North Carolina to accept the award on his behalf. Justin is currently the Chief of Air Operations for the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Mali.
This prestigious award was created by the GHS chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) in 2010 to pay tribute to the accomplishments of one or two graduates each year. Eachrecipient is invited to attend the ceremony to receive the award and to serve as keynote speaker. Each recipient is also commemorated in the halls of the school with a permanent plaque outlining their achievements.
Justin was nominated for this honor by Barbara Lonsky, a longtime friend of the Williams family. Lonsky was also present at the ceremony and gave her account of Justin’s accomplishments and her reasons for nominating him.
“Justin and his brother, Jason, developed a love for flying early in life, in part because of the influence of his mother and my late father, Jim Lippincott, who was an avid glider pilot,” Lonsky said. “Justin has always had a keen mind and been a kind, compassionate young man with a ‘can do’ attitude. He has worked hard and excelled academically and in his chosen career in the Air Force.”
Among the many accomplishments cited by Lonsky are these, which are engraved on the plaque that will hang on the GHS Wall of Fame: 1993-1994: Represented GCS as a Rotary exchange student in Tampere, Finland; 1995: Began college studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida; 1997-1998: Studied as an exchange student at L’EPF University, School of Engineering, in Paris, France; 1999: Graduated cum laude from ERAU with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering; 2002: Graduated from Texas A&M University with a Master of Science in aerospace engineering and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, USAF (distinguished graduate); 2003-2014: Attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida, followed by F-15E operations in North Carolina, Germany and England, with multiple deployments to Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East; 2015-2019: Received cultural and linguistic training, achieving language proficiency in Dari as an advanced air advisor in Washington and Afghanistan; 2019-2020: Graduated from National Defense University in Washington, D.C. with a Master of Science in security studies; 2020-2022: Deputy Operations Group Commander (F-15E) in North Carolina and Jordan; 2022-2023: Chief of Air Operations, UN Peacekeeping Mission in Bamako, Mali.
NHS President Elisa Allen introduced Dolores, who lived in Groton for most of her life, where she raised Justin and Jason as a single parent. Allen presented Dolores with the plaque, after which Dolores read the heartwarming speech sent to her by Justin.
While there is not enough space here to include all of the amazing experiences Justin shared, here are some of the highlights that he wanted to convey to the NHS students who chose him for this honor.
“First, thanks for the award. This was a real surprise and very unexpected. I graduated from Groton 30 years ago and really haven’t been back since, so it is a real surprise to know that I wasn’t completely forgotten. Education is the key to many of life’s successes, and I have to thank Groton High School for starting me on a solid path. I was not a straight-A student. In fact, my academic career was mediocre in the beginning and improved to somewhat above average at best by the time I finished.
“Even with that modest beginning, the real takeaway is this: for many things in life, a degree is the price of entry for a decent living. For others, it may be a trade or a technical skill. It is not necessarily the piece of paper with fancy writing on it that makes you successful over the course of a lifetime, but often it is the price of entry for a lot of things. More often than not, true success and real passion or purpose are supported by lifelong learning. Whether that is a formal education, a skill, a trade or a passion that brings joy to your life, never stop learning. The most successful people, and often the happiest, are those who continue to learn out of desire and interest.
“Second, have goals and pursue goals, but be open to the unexpected and the curveballs that life will throw at you. Doors open when you choose to see the positive and make it work for you. Seek opportunity and you will find it. There are many great things out there, and some of them are things you never even thought of as options.
“Until you get outside of the United States, you will never truly understand that most of the world lives in poverty and dreams of the many opportunities available to every American. You can go anywhere in the world with English, but I offer you this challenge: really learn a second language or two, and I mean really learn it. Go to another country. Speak it so much that you wake up and realize you were dreaming in it. It is an incredible experience, and it will change your life. It will also open more doors of opportunity than you ever imagined.
“Lastly, if you are the lucky person in the audience who knows exactly what you want to do after high school, congrats! Please realize that is rare and that you are well on your way to success. If you are like I was, and still am at times, and not sure where you want to go or what you want to do in life, that’s ok. I can honestly say, after 30 years and looking back, that pay scales and accolades are nice, but passion and purpose in your life is invaluable. When you home in on that thing that you want to do, regardless of how hard it is or whether it was your first choice, or even if you are not the best at it, you will discover that you have found passion.
“Flying fighters is what the Air Force trained me to do, but it doesn’t define me. Leading people in worthwhile organizations to do great things that are greater than any one person is what I became. Flying was just the thing that helped me find what I was made of, what I could go through to get to a goal, what I could actually do, but it was just the beginning of who I am and who I will be.”
Dolores read Justin’s speech with such passion and eloquence that it was easy to imagine Justin being on that stage himself and to see the positive effect on the students he hoped to inspire as he expressed his gratitude for the award.
Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922.