BCA Chairman Coleman Named a Top Army Civilian Aide

Acting Secretary of Army Robert M. Speer, left, presents BCA Chairman Jeff Coleman with his flag of office as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Alabama (South) (U.S. Army photo)

Business Council of Alabama Chairman Jeff Coleman of Dothan has been named Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Alabama (South), the Pentagon announced.

Coleman, president and CEO of Coleman Worldwide Moving, succeeds Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Alabama (South) Emeritus Mack Dove, chairman of BCA-member AAA Cooper Transportation.

Coleman attended the CASA investiture ceremony at the Pentagon on July 20.

“It was an as an incredible experience and I give God the praise and glory for this opportunity to serve our great country and the United States Army,” Coleman said. “I am deeply humbled, grateful, and greatly honored to serve in this position.”

Coleman became BCA chairman in January. He was featured in the Business Advocate upon assuming his role as chairman.

“Chairman Coleman exemplifies a true public servant whether advocating for his community, his faith, for business, and for our nation’s military,” said BCA President and CEO William J. Canary. “The U.S. Army made an excellent choice in selecting Jeff for this important and vital role.”

CASAs promote good relations between the Army and the communities he or she serves and they advise the civilian Army secretary on regional issues. Each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories have an appointed CASA, who generally is a business or civic leader who possesses a keen interest in the welfare of the Army and his or her communities, the Army said.

Coleman was selected by the Acting Secretary of the Army Robert M. Speer. “Appointment to the position of CASA is an indication of both the high standing you are held in by your fellow citizens and your demonstrated commitment to serve our men and women in uniform,” Speer told Coleman.

Speer administers the CASA oath of office to Coleman during a ceremony in the Pentagon (U.S. Army photo)

Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz encouraged Coleman to submit his name for the position. “I had been serving on Friends of Fort Rucker for more than 10 years and they wanted someone active in Alabama,” said Coleman.

Friends of Fort Rucker is a group of business leaders and advocates from cities contiguous to Fort Rucker, a major Army aviation base.

“Mr. Coleman’s support for the Army and the Fort Rucker community has been outstanding. He will now bring those experiences and will do a great job representing all our soldiers and family members across southern Alabama,” Speer said in a statement

Coleman Worldwide Moving is ranked as one of the top 30 largest private companies in Alabama, and it is the largest agent for Allied Van Lines, which is one of the largest moving and relocation companies in the world, the Army said.

Coleman is a fifth-generation leader of a family-owned, transportation, moving, storage, and relocation business that was established in 1914.

In addition to serving as BCA chairman, Coleman is a member of the executive committee and the board of directors for the American Moving and Storage Association, is vice chairman of the Alabama Trucking Association, vice chairman of the Dothan Industrial Development Board, and chairman of Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan, the Army said.

CASAs serve two-year terms without compensation. Terms may be extended to a total of 10 years of service and the secretary may recognize a civilian aide as a CASA Emeritus after 10 years of distinguished service.

Dove had served in that role for 10 years and assumed the emeritus title on Jan. 1.

“There’s no way I can fill his shoes,” Coleman said. “He’s been an unbelievable advocate for the Army.”

Coleman said he hopes to support the efforts of local lawmakers to maintain funding for Fort Rucker and promote veterans’ causes in the area, he told the Dothan Eagle.

“This is a way for me to serve my country and pay it forward to the men and women in uniform,” he said. “I have a lot of gratitude and respect for them.”