TITLE: Recognizing Anthony Woods for his service to his country and the State of Texas.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Anthony Woods for his service to his country and the State of Texas.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Major General (Ret.) Anthony Woods, former commanding general of the Texas State Guard, rendered exceptional service to his country and his state over the course of a distinguished military career that spanned four decades; and WHEREAS, Anthony Woods received an early commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1984; he attained the ranks of first lieutenant, captain, and major with the Army National Guard, and he served as executive officer for the 1st Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment, during Operation Noble Eagle, the first deployment of troops to protect critical infrastructure following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; he went on to become a lieutenant colonel and the first African American commander of the unit in 2005, providing vital leadership during the initial American training exercise in Romania after the fall of the Soviet Union; and WHEREAS, The next year, Lieutenant Colonel Woods acted as deputy commander for Operation Jump Start, an initiative to secure the southwest border; after rising to the title of colonel in 2009, he served as deputy commander of the Joint Interagency Task Force, which was created to support law enforcement during Texas disasters, and commanded the 136th Regional Training Institute; in 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan to oversee the Security Forces Agency Task Force; and WHEREAS, Colonel Woods was elevated to brigadier general with the Texas State Guard, and in June 2022, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as the commanding general of TXSG; under his direction, the force provided crucial support to state and federal initiatives, and he exhibited a remarkable ability to lead large-scale operations and efficiently allocate resources while overseeing such crucial missions as responses to wildfires, hurricanes, and public health emergencies; he was promoted to major general during his tenure, and he announced his retirement in August 2024, drawing to a close a decorated career; and WHEREAS, The leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Anthony Woods have greatly benefited his fellow citizens, and he may indeed take pride in his indelible legacy of service with the Army National Guard and the Texas State Guard; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby commend Major General (Ret.) Anthony Woods for his exemplary military career and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Major General Woods as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. King President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 12, 2025.