Top military advisor to keynote veterans conference in Wenatchee

Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell will be the keynote speaker at the Serving Those Who Served event in August at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

WENATCHEE — One of the highest-ranking enlisted leaders in U.S. military history will visit Wenatchee next month as the keynote speaker for the ninth annual Serving Those Who Served conference, highlighting the continued growth of Washington's statewide gathering for veterans service providers.

Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell, who served as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2015 until his retirement in 2019, will headline the two-day conference Aug. 19-20 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

The conference, organized by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission and Employment Security Department, brings together veterans service providers, state agencies and community organizations to share resources, best practices and new approaches to supporting veterans and their families.

Troxell retired after nearly 38 years in the Army, culminating in his appointment as the nation's senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he served as the principal enlisted military advisor to the chairman and secretary of defense. During his career, he completed five combat deployments, including Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, two tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom and a deployment in Afghanistan.

Today, Troxell works as a consultant and strategic advisor, focusing on issues affecting service members, veterans and military families. Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director David Puente Jr. said Troxell's "distinguished service and deep understanding of the needs of our military community will provide invaluable insights." Puente said he expects the keynote to spark thoughtful dialogue among organizations working to improve services for veterans and their families.

Conference sessions will cover topics including veteran employment, benefits, tribal veteran engagement, creative therapies and other resources available to veterans and the organizations that serve them. Registration for the free conference is open through the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

While the conference is designed primarily for veterans service providers, state agencies and nonprofit organizations, veterans and others interested in available resources are also encouraged to attend.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media